U.S. Department
of Justice
Social Media Fentanyl Dealer and Blood Gang Member Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Raleigh fentanyl dealer who used social media platforms to advertise his product was sentenced to 144 months in prison, which includes an enhancement for the defendant’s attempts to intimidate government witnesses. On April 25, 2024, Axel Rodriguez a/k/a “Flash,” age 23, pled guilty to conspiracy and trafficking of fentanyl.
“Drug traffickers are increasingly pushing deadly fake pills through social media. They’ve learned they don’t need to stand on street corners when they can reach kids on their smart phones,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Counterfeit Oxycontin, Percocet, and Xanax sold on social media are driving addiction and overdose death. It’s time to get the word out and warn kids of the risks.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in March 2023, Rodriguez became the subject of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Raleigh Police Department (RPD) investigation after he was identified as selling fentanyl in the Raleigh area using his Instagram account. Rodriguez regularly used his Instagram account to post pictures of the pills he was selling, as well as guns. Rodriguez would advertise that he was able to sell “K packs” of fentanyl pills, which is slang for 1,000 pills. Investigators reviewed Rodriguez’s Instagram account and observed numerous posts of firearms, gang members with firearms, and fentanyl pills for sale.
The investigation revealed Rodriguez was obtaining thousands of pills at a time and then distributing them in the Raleigh area. Between March and May of 2023, investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of blue pills marked “M-30” from Rodriguez. For example, on March 13, 2023, investigators purchased 25 pills marked “M30.” The confidential informant reported that he observed four firearms in Rodriguez’s vehicle during that transaction. The pills tested positive for the presence of fentanyl.
Rodriguez, a validated member of the Bloods, also used his Instagram account to attempt to intimidate an individual Rodriguez suspected of being a government witness. Specifically, while in custody for the instant offense, Rodriguez directed another individual to post a photo of an individual Rodriguez believed to be a witness against him, along with photos of sealed court documents and an image of a rat.
At sentencing, the Government argued Rodriguez’s posts were clear attempts to intimidate a potential witness and asked that his sentence reflect that. The Court agreed and applied an enhancement for attempted obstruction of justice.
“The sentencing of this dangerous individual is an example of our strong working relationship with our federal partners, especially the FBI. The Raleigh Police Department (RPD) will not tolerate the use of social media as a tool for drug trafficking in our city. Using social media to harm our community with fentanyl and heroin will be met with the collective investigative efforts of Federal, state, and local law enforcement. The RPD is grateful to the FBI and U.S. Attorney Michael Easley for our partnership in making our community safe,” said Chief Estella Patterson.
This investigation was part of Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00295.
