INDIANAPOLIS – Rodney Varela, 38, of Columbus, was sentenced late Wednesday 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.
On March 10, 2020, Varela was found to be in possession of about 135 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol while driving his vehicle. Law enforcement officers later executed a search warrant at his residence where agents seized approximately 700 grams of pure meth and five additional firearms.
The United States Department of Justice said 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.
As part of the sentence, U.S. District Judge Richard Young ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.