PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Rudy Salazar, 37, of Dade City, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber handed down the sentence after Salazar pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
According to the plea agreement, between January and November 2023, Salazar trafficked approximately 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 39 grams of cocaine, and 30 grams of fentanyl within Pasco County.
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Salazar was aware of the extreme danger posed by fentanyl and took precautions to protect himself while selling it, including wearing a mask and gloves. He even warned a buyer that fentanyl could be fatal if touched or ingested without protection.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Pardo prosecuted the case.
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This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, which uses a multi-agency approach to target high-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
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