Luzerne County Business Owner Receives Lengthy Prison Sentence for Drug Trafficking Operations

A Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, man has been sentenced to over two decades in federal prison for his role in a significant drug trafficking conspiracy. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, James Rodriguez, Jr., also known as “Mack Mulla,” was handed a 242-month prison term on November 21, 2025. This sentence stems from his conviction on multiple charges related to the distribution of substantial quantities of fentanyl and marijuana.

A jury found Rodriguez guilty on nine counts detailed in a superseding indictment, which accused him of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute approximately 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl and 8.5 kilograms of marijuana. These illicit activities are reported to have occurred between January 2021 and January 2022. During this period, Rodriguez operated Mulla Fashion, a clothing store located on Scott Street in Wilkes-Barre. The establishment also featured a recording studio and, critically, served as a front for his drug operations, facilitating the sale of fentanyl and marijuana to both individuals and other drug dealers.

Further details of the investigation reveal that Rodriguez traveled to Mexico in January 2021 to meet with members of the MS-13 gang, who allegedly supplied him with kilograms of fentanyl for distribution. To further his illegal enterprise, Rodriguez maintained a stash house in Wilkes-Barre Township for the storage of drugs. A search warrant executed at this location on January 20, 2022, led to the seizure of 159 grams of fentanyl, 400 grams of marijuana, two handguns, and a shotgun. Law enforcement also confiscated illicit substances and weapons from the Mulla Fashion store itself, where they discovered 800 grams of marijuana, 37 grams of fentanyl, a ballistics vest, and a handgun.

The investigation into Rodriguez’s drug trafficking network was a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kingston Police Department, and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Kyle Moreno prosecuted the case.

This sentencing highlights the serious consequences of engaging in drug trafficking operations. For residents, it underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to dismantle drug networks that can impact community safety and well-being.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

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