A federal judge in Wilmington has sentenced Oralia Rodriguez-Flores, 40, of Clayton, North Carolina, to 11 years in prison for money laundering and trafficking large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine. Rodriguez-Flores pleaded guilty late last year to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine.
“Let this case stand as a warning to those 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,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Rodriguez-Flores thought she could hide behind money laundering schemes and drug trafficking networks, but she thought wrong.”
“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 other’s addiction.”
Court documents show that between June 2021 and June 2024, Rodriguez-Flores distributed significant quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine shipped from Mexico and laundered proceeds back to Mexico.
In January 2023, authorities discovered that Rodriguez-Flores was supplying kilogram-level amounts of cocaine to a South Carolina-based drug trafficking organization (DTO). On January 16, 2023, she delivered four kilograms of cocaine to the DTO. On January 5, 2024, she sold nearly one kilogram (891.2 grams) of high-purity methamphetamine.
About two weeks later, agents seized $39,391 in cash from Rodriguez-Flores as she returned from Kentucky after collecting drug proceeds. On February 2, 2024, authorities seized another shipment—40 kilograms of cocaine—from her semi-trailer truck in Kentucky.
Rodriguez-Flores admitted involvement in drug trafficking for about three years and explained her operation to agents. She distributed drugs sourced from Mexico throughout the Carolinas and laundered millions back across the border.
The prosecution resulted from an investigation led by the Eastern District of North Carolina’s Illicit Finance Task Force (IFTF), which was established in partnership with the Treasury Executive Office of Asset Forfeiture (TEOAF) as an interagency group focused on anti-money laundering efforts within the district using both criminal and civil laws.
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle announced the sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations handled the investigation; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Toby Lathan and Charles Loeser prosecuted.
