Rome Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Harry Rodriguez, Jr., age 43, of Rome, New York, pled guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Carla Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office.

In pleading guilty, Rodriguez, Jr. admitted that on July 21, 2021, he purchased approximately 36 grams of fentanyl for redistribution. He also admitted that on September 14, 2021, he purchased approximately 50 grams of fentanyl for redistribution.  

Sentencing is scheduled for October 11, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd.  Rodriguez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, the Utica Police Department, the Syracuse Police Department, the Rome Police Department, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the New York Army National Guard Counter Drug Program, the Yorkville Police Department, the Whitesboro Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.