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Press Release

Houston Father and Son each Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Violations

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston father and son were each sentenced to federal prison for federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

 

Rolando Delarosa, Sr., 43, and Rolando Delarosa, Jr., 22, both pleaded guilty on Feb. 27, 2017, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and were sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.

 

According to information presented in court, between December 2013 and June 2015, the Delarosas were involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy that was responsible for trafficking methamphetamine through Houston and into the surrounding areas. An investigation began after a co-conspirator, Jesus Silva, made four deliveries to an undercover officer in Houston and Cleveland, Texas. After each of these deliveries, Silva was followed back to a home known to be owned and occupied by Rolando Delarosa, Sr.

 

Wiretaps confirmed that Delarosa, Sr. was Silva's supplier and that he intended to distribute, and distributed more than 2 ½ kilograms of methamphetamine. Silva continued to provide methamphetamine to an undercover officer and introduced Rolando Delarosa, Jr. to confidential sources as a supplier of methamphetamine. Delarosa, Jr. agreed to sell three kilograms of methamphetamine to a confidential source. Agents followed Delarosa, Jr. back to Delarosa, Sr.'s house, where Delarosa, Jr. and his girlfriend also lived. The officers then noticed Delarosa, Jr. and his girlfriend leave the residence in the same vehicle with Delarosa, Jr. driving. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and Delarosa, Jr. and his girlfriend were observed by the officers as switching seats before coming to a complete stop. The officers immediately recognized the smell of raw and burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle when they approached it as well as a small bag of marijuana in plain sight on the center console. A search of the vehicle revealed a bag containing a large amount of methamphetamine inside. Analysts at the DEA Crime Lab determined that this substance was, in fact, almost one pound of methamphetamine. Officers then went to the residence of Delarosa Sr. and were given consent to search the residence. Officers located two rifles and more methamphetamine in the residence.

 

This case is the result of an extensive joint investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle S. Englade.

 

Updated July 25, 2017

Topic
Drug Trafficking