United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SHREVEPORT, La. – Two Texas men pleaded guilty to trafficking more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl through Louisiana, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam and United States Attorney David C. Joseph.

Felipe Rodriguez, 22, of McAllen, Texas, and Brandon Montoya, 24, of Kaufman, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to the guilty plea, a Louisiana State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop May 10, 2018 on an SUV on Interstate-20 at mile marker 31 going eastbound. The trooper searched the vehicle and found a plastic bag containing an unknown substance. The vehicle was brought to LSP Troop G headquarters. Upon a more thorough search, 10 plastic one-kilogram bags containing fentanyl were found. The defendants admitted to transporting the drugs. They said they had been approached in Houston to travel to California to obtain the drugs. They were then instructed to drive to Atlanta, Georgia, where they would be paid for the delivery.

“Fentanyl is the greatest and the most significant synthetic opioid threat to the United States, including here in Louisiana, where as little as two milligrams is a lethal dose,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Azzam “The seizure in this investigation, which was 10 kilograms, saved countless lives – there was enough fentanyl to kill five million people. These convictions should send a message to all drug traffickers that DEA will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who ruthlessly traffic this and other dangerous drugs.”

“Fentanyl kills, and drug dealers are selling this highly addictive drug at a growing rate,” said United States Attorney Joseph. “The Department of Justice in collaboration with state and local law enforcement are fighting daily to limit the availability and spread of this deadly drug. This case alone involved enough fentanyl to kill everybody in the state of Louisiana. Through education of our youth and vigorous prosecution of those who traffic in synthetic opioids, my office is making the fight against this epidemic a top priority.”

The defendants face up to 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine. The court set sentencing for Jan. 31, 2019.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. In recent years it has become more widely available in the United States and grown as a threat to public safety. It only takes a very small amount of fentanyl or its derivatives- which can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin or mucus membranes (such as being inhaled through the nose or mouth)- to result in severe adverse reactions including death. For more information about fentanyl, visit www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl.

The DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana State Police investigated the case.

Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.  

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