ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national was sentenced to 117 months in prison and ordered to pay a $600 special assessment for attempting to destroy an unmanned aerial system and federal drug trafficking offenses in New Mexico.
According to court documents, on July 3, 2023, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department tracked Rogelio Rodriguez-Salas, 29, a Mexican national who had previously been deported and was illegally present in the United States, by using a drone while he was in possession of a stolen vehicle. In an attempt to evade surveillance, Rodriguez-Salas fired a handgun at the drone to damage and disable it. Following this incident, he was arrested but subsequently released into the community.
Weeks later, on July 21, 2023, deputies from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department encountered Rodriguez-Salas again. He was found in possession of a revolver while engaged in drug trafficking activities and driving another stolen vehicle. At that time, he had more than four grams of fentanyl intended for distribution when stopped by deputies. His illegal presence in the U.S. prohibited him from possessing both firearms and ammunition.
On July 15, 2024, Rodriguez-Salas pleaded guilty to multiple charges: attempting to damage, destroy, disable, and wreck an aircraft; being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition; re-entering the United States as a removed alien; possessing with intent to distribute four grams or more of fentanyl; and possessing a firearm to further a drug trafficking scheme.
Upon his release from prison, Rodriguez-Salas will be subject to three years of supervised release and subject to deportation proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General conducted this investigation with the Albuquerque Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
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