News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2005

Forty Eight (48) Kilograms of Cocaine and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Cash Seized by the DEA
Two Defendants Arrested for Drug Trafficking

Cocaine Seized

MAY 19-- DENVER – Bill Leone, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, and Jeffrey D. Sweetin, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced that MICHAEL RYAN BOYD, age 29 of Clint, Texas, and RODOLFO RODRIGUEZ-MIJARES, age 44 of Denver, Colorado were arrested late last night on charges of drug trafficking. Both defendants were charged today by Criminal Complaint and are in federal custody. They will appear in federal court on Monday, May 23, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing and detention hearing.

According to the affidavit in support of the Criminal Complaint, on May 17, 2005 while driving on Highway 54, BOYD entered a U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint in Alamogordo, New Mexico. After obtaining permission to search his vehicle, Border Patrol Agents found 22 bundles wrapped in cellophane. The bundles tested positive for cocaine and weighed 25.3 kilograms. The defendant was taken into custody and the cocaine was seized. Border Patrol agents then contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration, who in turn obtained authorization from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico to deliver the cocaine.

COCAINE AND CASH SEIZURE

Cocaine Seized

The cocaine was then transported to a house located at 275 Raleigh in Denver, Colorado, where, under the supervision of the DEA,it was delivered to RODRIGUEZ-MIJARES. RODRIGUEZ-MIJARES in turn then placed a number of packages containing U.S. currency in the back of the cocaine delivery vehicle. DEA agents then arrested RODRIGUEZ-MIJARES. A search of RODRIGUEZ-MIJARES’ house revealed an additional 23 kilograms of cocaine, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, and two firearms.

Acting United States Attorney Bill Leone praised the DEA and the U.S. Border Patrol for their work in this case. “Thanks to the DEA, another large scale cocaine dealer in Denver has been arrested, and his drugs and cash seized.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Sweetin explained that, “A seizure of this size, particularly when the entire amount was destined for the Denver market, will clearly have a significant impact on cocaine availability.”

Both defendants face not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, and/or a $4,000,000 fine. Their actual sentence will be determined by a U.S. District Court Judge.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by the Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Drug Task Force, Assistant United States Attorney Bernie Hobson.

These charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.