Woman sentenced to 11 years after paying truckers over $1 million to distribute drugs for cartel

A North Carolina woman was sentenced to more than a decade in prison for trafficking narcotics from 18 wheelers and laundering millions of dollars for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

On August 20, 2025, Oralia Rodriguez-Flores, 40, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Rodriguez-Flores previously pleaded guilty 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.

Officials say that from June 2021 to June 2024, Rodriguez-Flores distributed large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine that had been shipped from Mexico and laundered the proceeds from the sale of these drugs back to Mexico.

The U.S Attorney’s Office describes how cocaine was seized from a tractor trailer during the investigation into the case:

“In January 2023, agents learned that Rodriguez-Flores was supplying kilogram quantities of cocaine to a drug trafficking organization (DTO) based in South Carolina. On January 16, 2023, Rodriguez-Flores delivered 4 kilograms of cocaine to the DTO. On January 5, 2024, Rodriguez-Flores sold 891.2 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine.

Approximately two weeks later, Rodriguez-Flores traveled to Kentucky to pick up drug proceeds when agents seized $39,391 in U.S. currency from Rodriguez-Flores as she returned to Raleigh. On February 2, 2024, agents seized 40 kilograms of cocaine from her semi-trailer truck in Kentucky.“

Officials detailed how Rodriguez-Flores admitted to paying commercial truck drivers to distribute drugs on behalf of the DTO:

“During a later interview with agents, Rodriguez-Flores admitted being involved with drug trafficking for approximately three years. She explained that she met drivers of 18-wheeler trucks on five or six occasions to pick up cocaine from Mexico. Each shipment contained approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine. She then distributed the drugs to customers in South Carolina. Flores also said that her source of supply in Mexico sent the methamphetamine she distributed from Mexico to California, and then it was mailed to South Carolina. 

Rodriguez-Flores also laundered drug proceeds to Mexico. She admitted that she provided over $1 million in cash to commercial truck drivers and that she delivered drug proceeds to runners for an Asian money laundering network that were then sent to the source of supply in Mexico. Rodriguez-Flores also used money service businesses to wire money to Mexico.“

“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.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations.