A Las Vegas resident with a history of felony convictions has been sentenced to five years in prison. Edward Rodriguez, 37, was convicted for distributing approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills and unlawfully possessing ammunition. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II also imposed four years of supervised release on Rodriguez.
Court documents reveal that on October 6, 2022, Rodriguez sold around 1,000 fentanyl pills in exchange for money. On October 18, 2022, an attempt by a Mesquite Police Department officer to conduct a traffic stop led to Rodriguez speeding through a school zone and neighborhood, endangering children. He was eventually apprehended inside a store with a backpack containing fentanyl pills, heroin, car keys, a magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, and methamphetamine.
Rodriguez admitted that his vehicle contained additional firearms: a shotgun and a modified semi-automatic handgun lacking a serial number. His prior felony convictions include forgery, attempted burglary, and ex-felon in possession of a firearm in Clark County as well as distribution of controlled substances and felon in possession of firearms in the District of Nevada. These previous offenses legally prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The announcement came from Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas Division. The investigation was conducted by the DEA alongside the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melanee Smith handled the prosecution.
Community members aware of controlled substance violations are encouraged to report anonymously through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.