SPOKANE, WA – An illegal immigrant from Mexico has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and firearm charges, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
Jose Efrain Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Federal investigators determined that in May and June 2024, Gonzalez-Rodriguez was operating on behalf of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization that was transporting drugs from California to Spokane and distributing them across Eastern Washington.
On June 24, 2024, agents executed a search warrant on Gonzalez-Rodriguez’s vehicle and discovered nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and 6,855 fentanyl pills. A subsequent search of his Spokane apartment uncovered an additional 59,529 fentanyl pills, nearly three pounds of methamphetamine, over a pound of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin. Authorities also recovered four pistols wrapped in tape and plastic for transport, two of which had been reported stolen.
“Fentanyl is killing people across Eastern Washington. Those who traffic in this poison—along with other deadly drugs and illegal firearms—will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “Mr. Gonzalez-Rodriguez brought significant quantities of poison and stolen weapons into our community, putting lives at risk.”
David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, added, “This case highlights the intersection of drug trafficking, firearms, and illegal immigration. Mr. Gonzalez Rodriguez endangered our community on all three of these fronts.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Spokane Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement and Narcotics (RAVEN) task force and the United States Border Patrol.