United States Drug Enforcement Administration

FRESNO, Calif. - Leopoldo “Polo” Rodriguez, 42, resident of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute, marijuana. 

According to court documents, Rodriguez and his fellow conspirators planned to send large quantities of marijuana from Bakersfield to Memphis, Tennessee.  On August 26, 2013, Rodriguez and co-defendant Jesus Quintero were arrested while they were transporting approximately 300 pounds of marijuana intended to be sent to Memphis.  Later that same day, a search warrant executed at a ranch in Bakersfield led to the seizure of 80 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of co-defendant Jose Torres Quintero.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bakersfield Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Rooney is prosecuting the case.

Co-defendants Jesus Quintero and Jose Torres Quintero have pleaded not guilty and should be presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty.  They are scheduled for a status conference on June 9, 2014.

Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Anthony W. Ishii on July 14, 2014. Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.