SIOUX FALLS – United States Legal professional Alison J. Ramsdell introduced immediately that United States District Decide Karen E. Schreier has sentenced the second of two Mexican males convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Managed Substance. The sentence was made on June 3, 2024.
Mario Castro Covarrubias, 37, was sentenced to twenty years in federal jail, adopted by 5 years of supervised launch, and ordered to pay a particular evaluation of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. On March 11, 2024, Melecio Rodriguez Medina, 39, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in federal jail, adopted by 5 years of supervised launch. He was additionally ordered to pay a particular evaluation of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mario Castro Covarrubias and Melecio Rodriguez Medina have been indicted on prices of Conspiracy to Distribute a Managed Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2022. Rodriguez Medina pleaded responsible on November 6, 2023, and Castro Covarrubias pleaded responsible on 3 of January 2024.
Rodriguez Medina and Castro Covarrubias have been based mostly in Mexico and have been a part of a world group that organized the transportation of huge portions of narcotics to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from Mexico. Whereas in Mexico, Rodriguez Medina and Castro Covarrubias coordinated with two couriers to get roughly 25 kilograms of cocaine delivered to Sioux Falls in October 2021. On October 18, 2021, regulation enforcement seized the cocaine that they’d shipped to South Dakota. In December 2021, the 2 once more coordinated to ship roughly 42 kilograms of cocaine to Sioux Falls, which was additionally seized. Along with the cocaine, Rodriguez Medina was accountable for arranging a cargo of 1 kilogram of fentanyl tablets to Sioux Falls. Investigators additionally decided that Rodriguez Medina made preparations for a co-conspirator in South Dakota to take multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine to California after which take them again to South Dakota for distribution.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant US Legal professional Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Each males have been instantly returned to the custody of the US Marshals Service after their respective convictions.
