Two Indicted for Drug Trafficking

A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Hortencia Decaldera, 55, of Indianapolis, and Rodolfo Rodriguez, aka Oscar Rodriguez, 32, of Los Angeles, with possession with the intent to distribute approximately three kilograms of cocaine, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

On February 14, 2015, Decladera and Rodriguez were stopped for speeding by the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Stark County, Ohio.  A drug canine officer was called to the scene at which time the dog alerted on the vehicle.  A search of the F-150 revealed a hidden compartment inside the cab.  The occupants were arrested.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Stark Safe Street Task Force and the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa Riley.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.