HOUSTON – Houston resident Francisco Rodriguez, 21, has been arrested and charged with possessing a gross weight of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

Rodriguez was arrested Nov. 9, 2012, in Houston. Following a hearing late yesterday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacey ordered him detained pending further criminal proceedings.

According to the complaint filed of record in the case, a drug deal for the purchase of methamphetamine was negotiated with Rodriguez and undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. On Nov. 9, 2012, Rodriguez met with an undercover officer in a Houston area business parking lot to complete the transaction. Rodriguez allegedly pulled a backpack out of the toolbox of the truck that he had driven to the meeting, opened it and showed the agent several plastic containers. According to the complaint, Rodriguez opened one of the containers and revealed a crystal like substance to the undercover. Subsequently, a bust signal was given to the awaiting law enforcement in the area and Rodriguez was arrested. The crystal substance was field tested and gave a positive reaction for the presence of methamphetamine, the complaint states. The gross weight was 5.54 kilograms.

The case was investigated by HSI, Customs and Border Protection Air Unit, Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard J. Magness as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.