New Jersey, Florida residents arrested in Lake Charles sentenced for possessing 4 pounds of methamphetamine packaged as Mexican candy

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that two defendants, one from New Jersey and one from Florida, who were arrested during a Lake Charles traffic stop were sentenced Monday for possession of 4 pounds of methamphetamine packaged as Mexican candy.

Javier Munoz, 51, of Vineland, New Jersey, was sentenced to 165 months in prison and five years of supervised release on one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Beljavier Rodriguez, 26, of Bradenton, Florida, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release on one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering. United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey presided over the hearing. According to a joint factual stipulation in the record of the guilty plea, the defendants were traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 on September 9, 2016. A Lake Charles Police officer stopped the vehicle for speeding. The officer found a secret compartment underneath the car that contained two bags that appeared to be professionally printed bags of Mexican candy. Within the bags were 21 individually wrapped bags containing methamphetamine that weighed a total of about 4 pounds.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Lake Charles Police Department as part of the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.