30-05-2025
Leader of DC, Maryland drug trafficking crew sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A man was sentenced Thursday for his role as the leader of a drug trafficking crew that operated throughout D.C. and Maryland, according to the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia.
Cila Melgar Rodriguez, 36, of Hyattsville, Md., was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $100,000.
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Rodriguez, aka 'Paipa,' pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine/crack cocaine and admitted to being the leader of the drug trafficking crew.
According to court documents, on August 12, 2023, one of Rodriguez's co-conspirators organized a sale of five kilograms of cocaine to a confidential source for $120,000.
On August 18, 2023, the sale was set to take place in a Costco parking lot, and there, DEA agents arrested the co-conspirators. Agents searched the co-conspirator's car, where they seized a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver and over 3.6 kilos of cocaine.
The USAO states that Rodriguez was not present at the deal, but he was the one who provided the cocaine to the dealers and organized the operation.
An initial investigation determined the co-conspirators had received the cocaine from Rodriguez outside of an apartment building in Northwest.
The USAO adds that the cocaine provided by Rodriguez for the deal was recovered by officers.
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