United States v. Sandra Rodriguez

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Rodriguez, a former methamphetamine addict and current gambling addict,

was recruited by her friend “Martha” to smuggle drugs across the Mexico/U.S.

border for Alejandro Ibarra. Ibarra offered Rodriguez $4,000 to smuggle the drugs.

After she agreed, Ibarra purchased and registered a vehicle in Rodriguez’s name,

forging her signature. On the day of the operation, she drove to a location in Tijuana,

Mexico where a Hispanic male took the vehicle for a few hours so that the drugs

could be loaded into secret compartments. She was then told to drive across the

border and give the vehicle to a man called “J5” at a gas station in Fontana,

California. A week prior to this trip, Rodriguez had successfully smuggled drugs

using this plan. However, on this occasion, Rodriguez was stopped at the border and

arrested after 21.06 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2.25 kilograms of heroin

were found in the vehicle.

2 Rodriguez quickly confessed and gave a full statement. She denied knowing

the amount or type of drugs she was smuggling or where they were concealed. Her

probation officer, the prosecutor, and defense counsel agreed Rodriguez was…