A 53-year-old man from Hayward, identified as Robert Godinez, has been handed a 13-year prison sentence for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation, according to news from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Godinez was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute sizeable amounts of methamphetamine and heroin, as well as using his cellphone to commit drug trafficking offenses. U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced the sentence, which was delivered by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd.
As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Godinez was apprehended during a traffic stop on August 30, 2019, after purchasing narcotics in Stockton. A search of his vehicle unearthed 2 pounds of methamphetamine and roughly a half-pound of heroin. But Godinez didn't stop there; during his trial, he further entangled himself by submitting false declarations to the district court and providing misleading information to his probation officer—actions that triggered an obstruction of justice sentencing enhancement.
Godinez's conviction is a result of a collaborative enforcement operation spanning various agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations, with the case being spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Lee and Adrian T. Kinsella. This interagency effort is a part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which stems from Executive Order 14159, signed to combat a wide array of criminal networks.
The HSTF is committed to rooting out and prosecuting the full range of criminal activities perpetrated by cartels, gangs, and trafficking rings—particularly those involving children or resulting in violent criminal acts. The Homeland Security Task Force, with contributions from the FBI, DEA, and local agencies like the Stockton and Tracy Police Departments, emphasizes the high-priority nature of these threats and aims to dismantle the operations that fuel violence within American communities.
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