Ohio – An Arizona woman admitted in U.S. District Court to trafficking a large quantity of cocaine after being stopped by Ohio State Highway Patrol while driving a moving truck filled with drugs.
Traffic Stop Leads to Major Drug Bust
Andrea Celaya-Rodriguez, 28, of Tucson, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Her arrest took place on March 22, 2024, when Ohio State Highway Patrol officers stopped her Penske rental truck on Interstate 70 in Madison County.
Court documents reveal that Celaya-Rodriguez had rented the truck in Tucson just a few days prior and was scheduled to return it to Arizona within four days. During the traffic stop, a drug detection canine signaled the presence of narcotics, leading to a search of the vehicle.
Inside the cargo area of the truck, troopers found a sectional couch, a suitcase, and a produce bin covered by a blanket. The produce bin contained three duffel bags, which were packed with 50 kilogram-sized bricks of cocaine.
Defendant Admits to Drug Trafficking Arrangement
Following her arrest, Celaya-Rodriguez spoke with DEA agents and admitted she was transporting the cocaine from Arizona to New York. She told authorities she expected to be paid $50,000 for the job, which was arranged by a man she had met in Mexico two weeks before her arrest.
According to her statement, she met this man on a remote road in Arizona, where he handed her shoe boxes filled with cocaine. She then re-packaged the drugs in duffel bags to transport them in the moving truck.
Plea Agreement and Sentencing
Celaya-Rodriguez’s plea agreement includes a sentencing recommendation of 33 to 41 months in prison. However, the final sentence will be determined by the court, following federal sentencing guidelines and statutory considerations.
Congress has established minimum and maximum penalties for narcotics offenses, and Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison will issue the final sentencing decision at a later hearing.
Federal and State Officials Respond
Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris, Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Lawton of the DEA’s Detroit Field Division, and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones announced the guilty plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Nicole Pakiz are prosecuting the case on behalf of the federal government.
