North Carolina Man Sentenced for Role in 59 Kilo Cross-Border Cocaine Delivery

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Durham, North Carolina man was sentenced yesterday to 123 months in prison for his role in the attempted delivery of 59 kilograms of cocaine that was transported across the U.S.-Mexico border en route to Providence Forge, Virginia.

According to court documents, on July 26, 2023, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations intercepted a load of cocaine as it crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Agents then replaced the cocaine with an imitation substance and took the load to a truck stop in Providence Forge to make a controlled delivery to the intended recipient, Jose Daniel Arellano Rodriguez, 36.

Arellano Rodriguez arrived at the truck stop with $90,000 in cash to take delivery of the cocaine. He was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted possession with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-61.