Riverside Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Pounds of Methamphetamine from Mexico into Inland Empire

RIVERSIDE, California - A Riverside County man who helped lead an organization that trafficked pound quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico into the Inland Empire has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced today.

Javier Rodriguez, 57, of Riverside, was sentenced late Monday by United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal.

Rodriguez, a member of the Riverside-based Casa Blanca Rifa street gang, pleaded guilty on March 18 to eight felonies: one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine; three counts of possessing methamphetamine for distribution; one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition; and two counts of attempted international promotional money laundering. Rodriguez has been in federal custody since pleading guilty.

The investigation leading to these federal charges focused on the criminal activities of the Casa Blanca Rifa gang to combat drug trafficking and associated violence in Riverside and the surrounding community.

From at least April 2020 until August 2020, Rodriguez and others purchased pound quantities of methamphetamine from their suppliers in Mexico as well as in Los Angeles and Riverside counties. Other members of the conspiracy further distributed methamphetamine in the Inland Empire. Prosecutors argued that Rodriguez also trafficked drugs from his mother's home,

In total, law enforcement seized more than 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of methamphetamine and $31,035 in cash during this investigation.

In May 2020, Rodriguez possessed 150 rounds of ammunition. He is not legally permitted to possess ammunition because his criminal history includes six felony convictions in state court in Riverside and Los Angeles counties for crimes ranging from drug dealing to burglary.

Rodriguez is the 16th and final defendant sentenced in this criminal case. Lead defendant Timoteo Gomez, 51, of Riverside, was sentenced on May 6 to 21 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to his role in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Other defendants in this case received prison sentences ranging from two to 12 years.

The FBI's Inland Empire Safe Streets Task Force investigated this matter. The Task Force is a joint federal and state gang task force that includes the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; IRS Criminal Investigation; the Riverside County Sheriff's Department; and the Riverside Police Department. The FBI's Safe Streets Task Force received assistance during the investigation from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the United States Marshals Service.

Assistant United States Attorney Eli A. Alcaraz of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.