INDIANAPOLIS – Rodney Varela, 38, of Columbus, Indiana, was sentenced late yesterday to twenty years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on March 10, 2020, Varela was found to be in possession of approximately 135 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol while driving his vehicle. After further investigation, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Varela’s residence where agents seized approximately 700 grams of pure methamphetamine and five additional firearms.
Varela has numerous prior felony convictions in California and Indiana and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was also on parole at the time of the offense.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Matthew A. Myers, Sheriff of Bartholomew County, and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash who prosecuted this case.
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INDIANAPOLIS – Rodney Varela, 38, of Columbus, Indiana, was sentenced late yesterday to twenty years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on March 10, 2020, Varela was found to be in possession of approximately 135 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol while driving his vehicle. After further investigation, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Varela’s residence where agents seized approximately 700 grams of pure methamphetamine and five additional firearms.
Varela has numerous prior felony convictions in California and Indiana and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was also on parole at the time of the offense.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Matthew A. Myers, Sheriff of Bartholomew County, and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash who prosecuted this case.