Tampa Mother, Son Plead Guilty To Selling Synthetic Fentanyl

TAMPA, FL — A mother and son from Tampa have pleaded guilty to charges of distributing a mixture of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in a number of overdoses in Hillsborough County last year.

In federal court Wednesday, Jeffrey Luis Rodriguez, 34, and Mary Bell Rodriguez, 62, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and heroin, causing serious bodily injury.

Jeffrey Rodriguez also pleaded guilty to one count of distributing heroin causing serious bodily injury, and six counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

Mary Bell Rodriguez pleaded guilty to three counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

Each faces a mandatory penalty of life in federal prison.

According to court documents, from March 2017 through May 2018, the mother and son were members of a larger conspiracy that sold the illegal opioids around the Town n' Country area.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which investigated the case, said the duo would sell the opioids from their car.

In contrast to prescription fentanyl prescribed by doctors for severe pain, the fentanyl distributed by dealers is made in illegal drug labs and mixed with heroin and cocaine to increase its effect on drug users. The illegal mix is many times stronger than prescription opioids, resulting in an epidemic of overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The sheriff's office launched an investigation into the Rodriguezes and, between January and May 2018, undercover deputies purchased the dangerous opioid from the mother and son a number of times. The sheriff's office believes the two were responsible for "many overdoses" that took place in Hillsborough County last year.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Baggé-Hernández is prosecuting the case.