FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 11, 2011
TEXAS MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON ON FEDERAL DRUG CHARGE
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Prisciliano Rojas Jr., 45, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers for conspiracy to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana for remuneration. Rojas admitted that from February 17, 2010 until February 19, 2010, he conspired with known individuals to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana. The defendant further admitted to transporting approximately 419 kilograms of marijuana on behalf of a source of supply in El Paso, Texas to a known individual in Zanesville, Ohio. It was part of the conspiracy that the marijuana would be delivered by the defendant to the known individual in Ohio for further distribution to other areas including Huntington, West Virginia and elsewhere. On February 19, 2010, officers from the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop on a truck being driven by the defendant at the time. A search of the truck’s trailer revealed a false wall where officers subsequently located 419 kilograms of marijuana. Rojas was advised of his Miranda rights and gave a statement admitting that he was transporting at least 500 lbs of marijuana for distribution and that he expected to be paid $20 per pound for transporting the marijuana.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Monica Dillon handled the prosecution.
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