Rodger Bonilla Vargas, a 39-year-old from Honduras known locally as ‘Paki’, was handed a 32-month federal prison sentence this Thursday. The sentencing was for his role in maintaining a depot at his Washington, D.C. residence, instrumental in the operation of a narcotics distribution network. This operation had its roots embedded in the District of Columbia and Maryland. His charge was conspiracy to distribute and to possess with a motive to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine.
His sentence, issued by a U.S. District Court Judge, was not confined to the 32 months incarceration. It also demanded three years of supervised release post-prison. Bonilla Vargas had been residing in the United States in violation of immigration laws and is anticipated to face deportation procedures upon completing his sentence.
In his role within the drug trafficking operation, Bonilla Vargas was instrumental in maintaining substantial volumes of cocaine at his home for his co-conspirators. On a notable instance on the 18th of August, 2023, he held a whopping 3.6 kilograms of cocaine intended for distribution.
Owing to the criminal court proceedings, Bonilla Vargas conceded his complete awareness of the illegal nature of the substances he was handling. He acknowledged his knowing contribution to an intricate narcotics operation. His involvement in this illicit activity was over a period stretching from March 2023 to August 2023.
The distribution ring didn’t function in isolation, but rather involved several other individuals in its operation. Jorge Cruz Maldonado, Vladimir Roque Ceron, and Cila Melgar Rodriguez were among the accomplices in this illegal trade. A collective effort, their conspiracy was responsible for the distribution of more than 771 grams of cocaine and 11.62 grams of lethal fentanyl, as per the evidence procured in court records.
Before him, two of his fellow co-conspirators had already encountered the full force of the legal system. Vladimir Roque Ceron received a 14-month prison sentence for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute both fentanyl and cocaine. On the other hand, the courts handed Erik Rivera Garcia a more severe sentence of 62 months for participating in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
Prior this sentencing for drug-related activities, Bonilla Vargas had experienced a run-in with the law. He was apprehend by ICE in November 2023 on a charge of unsanctioned presence in the United States, resulting in the initiation of removal proceedings.