A Clayton woman was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison on Wednesday for money laundering and trafficking large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Oralia Rodriguez-Flores, 40, pleaded guilty at the end of last year to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and to distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
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U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said this case serves as a warning to people “willing to help cartels poison our communities.”
“We will target your drugs, your finances, and your profits and seize them. Then we will ensure you spend decades in prison. Cartel crime will not pay in Eastern North Carolina,” Boyle said. “Rodriguez-Flores thought she could hide behind money laundering schemes and drug trafficking networks, but she thought wrong.”
In a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, officials said agents first learned Rodriguez-Flores was supplying kilogram amounts of cocaine to drug trafficking organizations in South Carolina in January 2023.
Officials said she delivered four kilograms of cocaine on Jan. 16, 2023. Almost one year later, on Jan. 4, 2024, officials said she sold 891.2 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine.
Officials said two weeks later, on Feb. 2, 2024, agents said they seized 40 kilograms of cocaine from her semi-trailer truck in Kentucky.
Officials said Rodriguez-Flores admitted to being involved with drug trafficking for three years.
She told agents she distributed drugs to customers in the Carolinas that originated in Mexico. She is also responsible for laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico.
“This outcome is the result of dedicated work by law enforcement at every level,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The DEA remains committed to pursuing those who choose to traffic dangerous drugs and profit off of others’ addiction.”