Rodriguez

The charges against Rodriguez stemmed from a March 20, 2015, search of the Oley Street residence he shared with Charriez, during which authorities seized various amounts of cocaine.

“When the detectives went to execute the search warrant he was found by detectives throwing the controlled substances out the window from his bedroom,” said Lupinacci, referring to court papers in which detectives alleged Rodriguez was observed throwing cocaine from the third-floor and rear windows.

Rodriguez, who was represented by defense lawyer Nicholas Reifsnyder, was one of 47 people arrested in May 2015 after the district attorney’s Violent Crime Unit and Narcotics Enforcement Team crushed the two, rival gangs operating in Pottstown and neighboring Berks County. Authorities alleged the gangs were responsible for violent, drug-related incidents dating back to the summer of 2014.

The two gangs were identified, during an investigation dubbed “Operation War Ready,” as “Straight Cash Money Gun Crew” and “Brothas from Anotha.”

The conflict between the organizations “resulted in numerous shootings and gun battles,” during a sixmonth period, detectives wrote in arrest documents. Authorities alleged the gangs were connected to illegal narcotics trafficking.

Rodriguez was not linked to any of the shootings but was linked to the drug activity associated with the gang, according to court papers and prosecutors.

“He wasn’t charged with any of the crimes of violence but his part was very integral in the operation of that corrupt organization, the drug trafficking aspect of it,” Lupinacci explained.

The intensive gang war investigation went into high gear in fall 2014 after a rash of shootings in the borough.

Court papers revealed detectives, “in order to stem the rising tide of violence,” used wiretaps on eight cell phones belonging to the principal gang members and the electronic surveillance revealed the drug trafficking in Pottstown and surrounding areas.