Drug trafficking kingpin pleads guilty to murders, marijuana trafficking, money laundering, among other charges

NEW YORK — The leader of a massive and violent racketeering organization pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of racketeering conspiracy and took responsibility for nine murders, 10 attempted murders, marijuana trafficking, and money laundering.  The guilty plea stems from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Manuel Geovanny Rodriguez-Perez, 43, aka “Shorty,” admitted to his role as a leader of the Rodriguez Enterprise, a violent organization whose members sold large quantities of marijuana, murdered and attempted to murder nearly 20 people, transported and laundered millions of dollars, obstructed justice and committed perjury, and engaged in firearms offenses. 

Rodriguez-Perez was previously charged in connection with Operation Green Venom, a coordinated multi-agency investigation that was led by HSI and first announced in October 2010.

The maximum potential sentence for count one of the superseding indictment, to which Rodriguez-Perez plead guilty Tuesday, is life in prison.  The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Additionally, Rodriguez-Perez agreed to pay $25 million as a forfeiture penalty, which is the approximate amount of gross proceeds received by Rodriguez-Perez derived from racketeering activities, properties in New York, Florida, and the Dominican Republic, and cash and jewelry seized by law enforcement officers.

Rodriguez-Perez, has been in federal custody since Oct 15, 2010, when he was arrested during a takedown of more than 50 members of a massive marijuana trafficking ring that transported ton-quantities of marijuana from Florida and California for distribution in the greater New York area from the early 1990s to 2010.  Rodriguez-Perez is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.