A Las Vegas resident with a history of felony convictions has received a five-year prison term for drug distribution and illegal ammunition possession, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas Division.
Edward Rodriguez, 37, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of distributing fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II. Along with the prison sentence, he has also been mandated to four years of supervised release, as detailed in court documents acquired by justice.gov.
On October 6, 2022, Rodriguez is reported to have sold about 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills in exchange for money. After that transaction, on October 18, Rodriguez evaded a traffic stop by a Mesquite Police Department officer, leading to a pursuit that forced neighborhood children to hastily clear his path. He was eventually apprehended in a store; possession of fentanyl pills, heroin, a magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm – a 40mm semi-automatic handgun with no serial number and converted to fire fully automatic – was attributed to him.
Rodriguez's criminal record includes prior felony convictions such as forgery, attempted burglary, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, among others – establishing his prohibited status from owning firearms and ammunition. This case was brought to light through the collaborative efforts of the DEA and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanee Smith at the helm of prosecution, based on information presented at justice.gov.
For those concerned about controlled substances in their neighborhoods, the DEA encourages reporting through their anonymous tip line. This provides a way to share information without revealing your identity.
