Assistant U. S. Attorney P. Kevin Mokhtari (619) 546-8402
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - Aug. 22, 2017
SAN DIEGO - A man who fled in the middle of his three-day cocaine trafficking trial was arrested yesterday after being a fugitive for two months. Itai Enriquez-Rodriguez, 21, was arrested after being located in Gilroy near San Jose, California.
On July 7, 2016, Enriquez-Rodriguez was arrested at the Otay Mesa, California Port of Entry after being caught with three kilograms of cocaine in his vehicle. Shortly after his arrest, Enriquez-Rodriguez was released on bond. Following an investigation by Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enriquez-Rodriguez was indicted on conspiracy to import cocaine and importation of cocaine charges. Enriquez-Rodriguez persisted in his not-guilty plea and went to trial.
On June 21, 2017, Enriquez-Rodriguez’s trial began. At the end of the first day of trial, the Honorable Marilyn L. Huff ordered Enriquez-Rodriguez to return the following morning. The next morning, however, Enriquez-Rodriguez failed to appear. The parties recessed that morning to attempt to locate Enriquez-Rodriguez. During that recess, HSI agents discovered a Facebook post by Enriquez-Rodriguez’s brother depicting him and his brother, defendant Enriquez-Rodriguez. The brother’s Facebook account also included a photo of a man with a handgun with the caption, “He who laughs last, laughs the best. And I’m in no hurry." Both of the images were posted to Facebook the same morning Enriquez-Rodriguez fled.
Finding that Enriquez-Rodriguez had voluntarily absented himself from trial, Judge Huff ruled the trial could continue in absentia. Trial concluded on June 23, 2017 with the jury finding Enriquez-Rodriguez guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and importation of cocaine.
Over the next two months, the U.S. Marshals Service and HSI followed leads to help identify fugitive Enriquez-Rodriguez’s whereabouts. On Aug. 21, 2017, the Marshals Service obtained information that Enriquez-Rodriguez was hiding out in his hometown of Gilroy, California. Following that lead, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Enriquez-Rodriguez in a vehicle outside his girlfriend’s residence.
On Aug. 18, 2017, Enriquez-Rodriguez was indicted by a federal grand jury on bail jumping charges.
Enriquez-Rodriguez’s sentencing on the cocaine trafficking charges is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2017 at 9:00 am before the Honorable Marilyn L. Huff.
DEFENDANT Case Numbers 17cr0059-H, 17cr2379-H
Itai Enriquez-Rodriguez Age: 21 Gilroy, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine; Importation of Cocaine - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 952, 960, 963
Maximum penalty: 20 years’ imprisonment and $1,000,000 fine
Bail Jumping - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 3146.
Maximum penalty: 10 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
United States Marshals Service
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
