Jesus Paz Rodriguez, a 30-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona, has received a 10-year federal prison sentence for his involvement in a cocaine distribution conspiracy, dealing a major blow to drug trafficking operations in the Upstate region. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain imposed the sentence after Paz-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it.
Paz-Rodriguez played a crucial role in transporting a minimum of 60 kilograms of cocaine from Arizona to South Carolina between 2019 and his capture in February 2022. He orchestrated the delivery of substantial amounts of cocaine from his Arizona base to associates in Upstate South Carolina, who were responsible for distributing the drugs. The operation also involved sending the illicit profits back to Paz-Rodriguez from South Carolina, highlighting the extensive reach and sophistication of his network.
Law enforcement officials uncovered the drug trafficking scheme on February 9, 2022. They executed a federal search warrant at a Mauldin, South Carolina location, which served as a central hub for Paz-Rodriguez and his co-conspirators to store and distribute cocaine. During the raid, officers seized multiple kilograms of cocaine, providing concrete proof of the operation’s vast scale.
After serving his prison sentence, Paz-Rodriguez will be placed under five years of court-ordered supervision, highlighting the gravity that the federal system attaches to such crimes. It is important to note that the federal prison system does not provide parole, which means that Paz-Rodriguez will serve his entire sentence.
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