Co-Defendant in Oil Field Heist Takes Plea-Deal

SAN ANGELO, TX — Nayara Rodriguez, 24, appeared in court yesterday for a plea-hearing in regards to an Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a first degree felony, charge. Rodriguez was one of the suspects involved in the heist of the David Rogers Construction Company on March 19, 2016, the saga we've branded the "Oil Field Heist."

The trial of a co-defendant in the oil field heist, Marcus McVae, ended in a mistrial last month. McVae was charged with aggravated robbery involving the same heist as Rodriguez.

McVae, along with another individuals, are suspected of robbing Fernando Cardenas, whom they captured and tied-up with duct tape while he was sleeping in his trailer. The robbers were armed and wore ski masks as they entered the trailer. After Cardenas was duct-taped to chair, he was robbed of his personal property. 

McVae remains in custody at the Tom Green County Jail awaiting his retrial scheduled for June 19. Click here, here, and here for our coverage 

Rodriguez was charged together with Carlos Alfredo Zuniga, Judge Martinez Modesto, Omar Salas, Elizabeth Estrada, and Charles Walker. These four suspects are accused of stealing four oil-field “gang trucks” containing welders' tools.

Salas, 32, was charged with Organized Criminal Activity after he attempted to take one of the stolen vehicles to Mexico via the Del Rio point of entry on March 20. He was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for Theft over $20,000. 

In addition, Rodriguez, who is identified as "Meg" throughout the indictment, rode as a passenger with Estrada when they picked-up Salas in Acuna, Mexico and drove him over the Mexico border into the United States. They dropped Salas off at a Del Rio hotel where he met Zuniga and Modesto.

Zuniga had called Salas prior to this meeting and asked him to help transport four stolen trucks over the border to Mexico, the indictment reads. Salas agreed to transport one, as crossing all four vehicles would be suspicious. 

Investigators were able to charge Estrada for Organized Criminal Activity after observing video footage of her driving with Salas and Rodriguez across the U.S.- Mexico border on March 19, 2016. Another video snippet showed Estrada and Rodriguez crossing the Del Rio port of entry again after Salas was arrested. Click here for  our story on Estrada's arrest. 

On March 25, 2016, Rodriguez voluntary agreed to speak with Texas Ranger Nick Hanna. In the interview she explained that she rode in Estrada's Black Tahoe the morning of the aggravated robbery. According to the indictment, Estrada parked the vehicle near the railroad tracks close to the David Rogers Construction Company and recalled hearing the voice of Zuniga.

Additionally, Rodriguez told detectives she drove to Del Rio with the co-defendants and was present for the meeting between Salas, Zuniga and Modesto at the Del Rio hotel. According to the indictment, she told the group that the Mexican government at the border required additional money for the work equipment located in the bed of the trucks. 

She also testified to being in the stolen DRC truck with Salas as he attempted to drive across the border. Salas was denied entry into Mexico for not having enough money for the truck fee. Following this, Rodriguez exited the truck and entered a blue Dodge pickup being driven by Estrada, who was following behind Salas. 

The Plea

Wednesday afternoon, Rodriguez appeared before the 340th Judicial District Court with the Honorable Judge Jay Weatherby presiding. Her range of punishment was between five years to 99 years, or life.

“Do you understand the range of punishment?” Judge Weatherby asked Rodriguez. “Yes,” she replied with a quiet tone.

After explaining the plea deal, and asking if she was pleading guilty voluntarily, he asked Rodriguez to stand for her sentencing.

“Mrs. Rodriguez, how do you plead to the charge of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity?” Judge Weatherby asked Rodriguez. “Guilty," she replied.

For the guilty plea, the state offered Rodriguez four years deferred adjudication community supervision with restitution fees.

The orders of the probation require her to make no contact with any of the co-defendants, and that she remain in Tom Green County for the four year probation period.  

“You shall not communicate with the co-defendants in this matter,” Judge Weatherby told Rodriguez.   

The court was adjured with a simple ‘good luck’ from Judge Weatherby.