Traffic stop leads to drug bust
By BREAKING NEWS BLOG
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday charging Enrique Rodriguez, 29, of Delano, and Timothy J. Butler, 24, of Long Beach, with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to court records, a Bakersfield police officer stopped a vehicle driven by Butler and discovered 25 pounds of meth in the trunk of the vehicle. Butler's telephone contained text messages indicating that the drugs were to be delivered to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was arrested and a search warrant was executed at his residence in Delano. At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez was in possession of a loaded handgun.
During the search of Rodriguez's residence, agents seized an additional pound of meth from a vehicle in the garage that was registered to Butler, along with $36,000 in cash.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison.
- Office of U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner, Eastern District of California
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