CINCINNATI - Manuel Brijido Burciaga, 36, was sentenced today to an additional 168 months in prison for conspiring to deal drugs while in custody on pending federal drug trafficking charges.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Northeast Hamilton County Drug Task Force (DART) and West Chester Police Chief Joel Herzog announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott.
According to court documents, Burciaga was in custody in Butler County jail as he was being prosecuted for trafficking cocaine. He eventually received a 60-month sentence in April 2018 after pleading guilty to that charge.
In November 2016, Burciaga and his girlfriend, Yvette Estrella Rodriguez, 29, discussed the distribution of approximately 11 kilograms of methamphetamine. Burciaga arranged for her to connect with an outside contact to obtain the meth and distribute it in southern Ohio and elsewhere. Rodriguez met with an individual in January 2017 to make the deal. She and her mother, Socorro Rodriguez, 54, were arrested after she delivered five kilograms of meth.
“This case underscores the peril someone faces for continued drug trafficking activity while in custody," U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “Although he was initially facing a five-year sentence, Burciaga will now be serving 19 years in federal custody due to his crimes."
Yvette and Socorro Rodriguez have each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and are facing sentences of up to ten years.
Glassman commended the investigation by the federal, regional and local agencies, as well as Criminal Chief Kenneth L. Parker and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ebunoluwa Taiwo, who are representing the United States in the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
