Cila Melgar Rodriguez, a 36-year-old resident of Hyattsville, Maryland, received a 10-year federal prison sentence for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The operation distributed significant amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine across the District of Columbia and Maryland.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, alongside FBI Assistant in Charge Steven J. Jensen, Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian from the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck from Homeland Security Investigations Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Rodriguez, also known as “Paipa,” admitted guilt on February 27, 2025, to charges of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and crack cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge John Bates. As part of his sentencing, Rodriguez will serve five years of supervised release following his prison term and must pay a forfeiture money judgment totaling $100,000.
Court documents reveal that on August 12, 2023, one of Rodriguez’s associates agreed to sell five kilograms of cocaine to a confidential source for $120,000. On August 18, 2023, co-conspirators were apprehended by DEA agents at a Costco parking lot while attempting to finalize the transaction. Although Rodriguez was not present during the arrest, he supplied the cocaine and orchestrated the deal. Law enforcement recovered a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver from the vehicle involved and seized over 3.6 kilos of cocaine from a black and white canvas bag.
Prior to their arrest that day, Rodriguez had met with his co-conspirators outside an apartment building in Northwest where he provided them with the cocaine later confiscated by authorities during the operation.
This case falls under the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking (VCNT) Section's efforts to dismantle major sources of violence and large-scale firearms and drug trafficking within the District. The VCNT Section emphasizes proactive investigations targeting violent groups and repeat offenders.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, FBI, HSI, and ICE agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George P. Eliopoulos led the prosecution with support from Special Assistant U.S Attorneys Javier Urbina, Ernesto J. Alvarado, Timothy J. Coley, and Adam Stempel.
