U.S. Border Patrol agents working with the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested a 46-year-old Mexican national suspected of ties to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel in Ecorse on Tuesday, seizing approximately two pounds of cocaine, $100,000 in cash and a firearm. Federal officials identified the man as Ernesto Rodriguez-Castruita, a convicted felon who they say has been deported from the United States multiple times.
Arrest in Ecorse Nets Drugs, Cash and a Gun
According to MLive.com, Rodriguez-Castruita was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Ecorse. Agents seized the roughly two pounds of cocaine along with the six-figure cash haul and a firearm during the operation, per the outlet's report. Authorities have not released additional details about the arrest location in Ecorse or what specifically led investigators to the suspect.
Federal officials said Rodriguez-Castruita has an extensive criminal history, and that this is not his first encounter with U.S. immigration enforcement. He has been deported from the country multiple times, according to the same officials. Authorities also said he has prior convictions for criminal impersonation and for possessing contraband while incarcerated.
A Manslaughter Conviction and a Lengthy Appeal
Rodriguez-Castruita was previously convicted of manslaughter in Arizona, where he was sentenced to 14 years in prison, per the MLive report. That case has its own paper trail: in a 2012 decision, the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division Two, noted that Rodriguez-Castruita had pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and that the trial court imposed an aggravated 14-year prison term, according to court records published by Justia. The appellate court granted review of his bid to reinstate post-conviction proceedings but ultimately denied him relief, the same records show.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Rodriguez-Castruita is being referred for federal prosecution on multiple felony charges. Those charges reportedly include illegal possession of a firearm, unlawful reentry after deportation and providing material support to terrorists, the article notes. Federal officials said he will be deported, though they did not provide a timeline for when that might happen.
Cartel Designation Looms Over the Case
The reference to material support for terrorism ties into a broader federal move against drug cartels. The U.S. Department of State has designated Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, according to a State Department announcement. The evidence available does not establish the nature or extent of any alleged ties between Rodriguez-Castruita and the cartel.
Detroit Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jorge L. Chapa framed the arrest as a win for public safety in the region. “We have successfully taken dangerous narcotics, illicit currency, and a firearm off our streets,” Chapa said, per the same MLive account. No further timeline has been disclosed for Rodriguez-Castruita's prosecution or removal from the country.
