Score:   1
Docket Number:   SD-TX  5:19-cr-01847
Case Name:   USA v. Canales Rodriguez
  Press Releases:
LAREDO, Texas – A 51-year-old Dallas resident has entered a guilty plea to conspiring to import a large quantity of heroin and meth into the United States near Laredo, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.    

On Sept. 28, Monica Christine Canales Rodriguez attempted entry into the United States at the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry in Laredo driving a Toyota Four Runner. During initial inspection, authorities noticed anomalies in all four of the tires. They conducted a search and found 24 bundles of heroin and meth discreetly hidden in the tires.

The heroin and meth had an approximately weight of 48.82 and 13.8 kilograms, respectively. The total estimated street value is in excess of $1.3 million.

Today, Canales Rodriguez admitted she had planned to transport the drugs to Dallas where she was expecting to be paid $15,000.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing, which will be set at a later date before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana. At that time, she faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison as well as a possible $10 million fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from CBP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – Four people face up to life in prison on recent drug charges involving meth following the return of several Laredo federal indictments, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Two men face charges for trafficking a large amount of marijuana and ammunition, while four others were allegedly involved in the transportation of illegal aliens.

All were originally charged via criminal complaints and are currently in custody. Three are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon at 1 p.m. today, while others are scheduled for Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. The Laredo grand jury returned the indictments Oct. 22.

Mexican nationals Nicolas De La Garza Salinas, 50, and Miguel Angel Flores Diaz, 34; and Monica Christine Canales Rodriguez, 52, Dallas, are all charged in separate but similar cases. Each is charged with one count of conspiracy as well as importation of meth. Rodriguez also faces a third count of importing heroin. Two more cases against Mexican national Ramces Chavez-Gomez, 30, and Jose Gonzalo Ojeda, 24, Laredo, allege conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of meth and marijuana, respectively. The grand jury returned a fifth indictment against Julio Cesar Vega-Amaral, 42, for smuggling ammunition into the country.

Clarence J. Lee, 60, Ellis L. Boston, 47, and Julie Perez, 33, all of San Antonio, are charged together, while the final indictment charges Sebastian Mosley, 48, Tyler. These four are all charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

On Sept. 25, Salinas allegedly attempted to entered the United States through the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge in Laredo. The charges allege that during inspection, authorities soon discovered approximately 31.64 kilograms of a white liquid substance that tested positive for meth concealed within the gas tank.

Flores Diaz allegedly entered the United States on that same day, but at the Colombia Solidarity Bridge in Laredo, driving a tractor trailer. Authorities soon discovered anomalies in the cabin during a vehicle scan, according to the charges. The indictment alleges officials recovered 20 bundles of meth, weighing approximately 20.12 kilograms with an estimated value of more than $100,000.

Similarly, a third case alleges Rodriguez entered the United States at the Lincoln-Juarez Port of Entry in Laredo Sept. 28, driving a Toyota Four Runner. There, law enforcement noticed its four tires had anomalies and, upon inspection, found a total of 24 bundles of heroin and meth, weighing approximately 48.82 kilograms and 14.94 kilograms respectively, according to the charges. The drugs are allegedly valued at more than $1.3 million.

According to the indictment against Chavez-Gomez, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, he attempted to drive his SUV through a Laredo checkpoint Oct. 5. Upon arrival, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics, at which time authorities conducted an x-ray scan which revealed a hidden compartment near the rear seats of the vehicle, according to the charges. The compartment allegedly contained 20 bundles of meth that weighed approximately 36.3 kilos with a street value of more than $250,000.

In another separate matter, law enforcement allegedly observed six individuals carrying bundles near the Rio Grande River in Laredo July 18. The charges allege someone was driving a pickup truck towards the river. The driver, believed to be Ojeda, allegedly absconded on foot. The complaint alleges that authorities apprehended him and recovered 480 pounds of marijuana from that truck worth more than $380,000.

The grand jury indicted Vega-Amaral for smuggling ammunition via the Lincoln Juarez Bridge, Sept. 23. Law enforcement conducted an inspection of his vehicle, at which time they allegedly discovered approximately 4,300 rounds of various caliber ammunition. The charges allege it was concealed inside a speaker box and under a spare tire in the trunk of the vehicle.  

Lee, Boston and Perez are charged together with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. The criminal complaint alleges Lee attempted to drive a commercial truck through a Texas checkpoint west of Bruni. During inspection, a K-9 allegedly alerted to the presence of persons in the cargo area of the truck. An x-ray scan revealed the silhouettes of humans in the rear of the truck, according to the charges. Upon further inspection, authorities allegedly discovered a compartment hidden by a “false wall” with a small door that some utility appliances were blocking. The charges allege they eventually found 24 Mexican citizens in that compartment which had a temperature of 94 degrees. Several of those inside were allegedly sweating profusely and gasping for air. Boston and Perez had allegedly recruited Lee and had driven ahead of him through the checkpoint, acting as a scout vehicle for him.

Finally, Mosley allegedly conspired to transport illegal aliens. On Sept. 27, he  attempted to cross a checkpoint driving his tractor that was towing a refrigerated trailer, according the complaint against him. During inspection, authorities  allegedly noticed that two different temperature settings were displayed. Further inspection revealed he had 42 undocumented aliens inside the trailer, according to the charges.

Salinas, Diaz, Rodriguez, Chavez-Gomez all face up to life in prison if convicted as well as a maximum $10 million fine. Ojeda’s maximum sentence, upon conviction, carries a potential 40 years of imprisonment and a $5 million fine, while the remaining four could serve up to 10 years and pay up to $250,000.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigations of Salinas, Diaz and Rodriguez, while the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with Border Patrol (BP) worked on the Chavez-Gomez and Ojeda matters. ICE also investigated the cases against the remaining four individuals with the assistance  of BP.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling, Brian Bajew, Jennifer Day, Paul A. Harrison and Yoona Lim are prosecuting the cases.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DndDJmHSKdM1l6rRNuefap4o0DBA4d6XBYeQ3n86_XA
  Last Updated: 2024-02-11 18:27:36 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: Case type associated with a magistrate case if the current case was merged from a magistrate case
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The docket number originally given to a case assigned to a magistrate judge and subsequently merged into a criminal case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a magistrate case
Format: A3

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the second highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the third highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE3
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The number of days from the earlier of filing date or first appearance date to proceeding date
Format: N3

Description: The number of days from proceeding date to disposition date
Format: N3

Description: The number of days from disposition date to sentencing date
Format: N3

Description: The code of the district office where the case was terminated
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant at the time the case was closed
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense that carried the most severe disposition and penalty under which the defendant was disposed
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE1
Format: N4

Description: A code indicating whether the prison sentence associated with TTITLE1 was concurrent or consecutive in relation to the other counts in the indictment or information or multiple counts of the same charge
Format: A4

Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N4

Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N3

Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE1
Format: N8

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense under which the defendant was disposed that carried the second most severe disposition and penalty
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE2
Format: N4

Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE2
Format: N4

Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE2
Format: N3

Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE2
Format: N8

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense under which the defendant was disposed that carried the third most severe disposition and penalty
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE3
Format: A3

Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE3
Format: N4

Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE3
Format: N4

Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE3
Format: N3

Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE3
Format: N8

Description: The total prison time for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and prison time was imposed
Format: N4

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
Magistrate Docket Number:   SD-TX  5:19-mj-02395
Case Name:   USA v. Canales Rodriguez Do not docket in Magistrate Case - Case merged into Criminal Case 5:19-cr-01847-0
Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Br_95E38hzOOf9ondVgY21V5O5JG0nufGLql88BiZd4
  Last Updated: 2023-10-22 05:12:02 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: Case type associated with a magistrate case if the current case was merged from a magistrate case
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The docket number originally given to a case assigned to a magistrate judge and subsequently merged into a criminal case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a magistrate case
Format: A3

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the second highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the third highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE3
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The number of days from the earlier of filing date or first appearance date to proceeding date
Format: N3

Description: The number of days from proceeding date to disposition date
Format: N3

Description: The number of days from disposition date to sentencing date
Format: N3

Description: The code of the district office where the case was terminated
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant at the time the case was closed
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense that carried the most severe disposition and penalty under which the defendant was disposed
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE1
Format: N4

Description: A code indicating whether the prison sentence associated with TTITLE1 was concurrent or consecutive in relation to the other counts in the indictment or information or multiple counts of the same charge
Format: A4

Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N4

Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N3

Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE1
Format: N8

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense under which the defendant was disposed that carried the second most severe disposition and penalty
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE2
Format: N4

Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE2
Format: N4

Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE2
Format: N3

Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE2
Format: N8

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense under which the defendant was disposed that carried the third most severe disposition and penalty
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE3
Format: A3

Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE3
Format: N4

Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE3
Format: N4

Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE3
Format: N3

Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE3
Format: N8

Description: The total prison time for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and prison time was imposed
Format: N4

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
F U C K I N G P E D O S R E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E