Bradenton drug gang killed 3 on New Year’s Day 2016. Federal prison is their new home

Jordan Rodriguez, 26, was the latest member of a Bradenton drug dealing gang to learn that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a federal judge handed down multiple life sentences for his part in multiple murders, including three on New Year’s Day in 2016.

U.S. District Judge William F. Jung sentenced Rodriguez to three life terms on Wednesday.

Alfonzo Churchwell, 32, and Andrew Thompson, 25, were sentenced to multiple life terms last month, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa.

All three men were convicted of murder, drug trafficking, racketeering and other charges, following a three-week long trial.

The trio were arrested with four other men in May of 2018 after an investigation revealed the men had resorted to murder in an effort to build a drug dealing operation in the Oneco area.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the murdered victims,” U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez said in a prepared statement. “We are deeply committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations.”

Federal agents worked with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to solve the case.

“Our goal has always been to find violent drug traffickers who are destroying lives in our community and hold them accountable,” Sheriff Rick Wells said. “We appreciate the hard work of the United States Attorney’s Office for bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”

The four other men involved in the drug ring took plea deals ahead of their trials. Raymy Escoto and Phillip Uscanga pleaded guilty to arson in September and Juan Ortiz pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy.

Jesse Rodriguez took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking and running a drug house.

This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 8:31 AM.