RALEIGH, N.C. - A California man was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine, aiding and abetting.
According to court documents, Andrew Richard Rodarte, 73, was observed driving a semi-truck to a home under investigation in Littleton, North Carolina. Rodarte was observed meeting with individuals at that home that unloaded duffle bags from the semi-truck. After leaving the home, Rodarte drove to a nearby truck stop. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the home where they located Luis Enrrique Arroyo-Jimenez and seized duffle bags containing a total of 80 kilograms of cocaine. Officers located Rodarte at a truck stop in Halifax County and searched Rodarte’s semi-truck where they found $2,055,141 in United States currency located in a hidden compartment.
On Sept. 24, 2019, Rodarte pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine, aiding and abetting. On November 7, 2019, Arroyo-Jimenez pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine, aiding and abetting, and will be sentenced in June 2020.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dena King prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-CR-48-D.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
