Rolando Felipe Diaz Aguilar Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison

Rolando Felipe Diaz Aguilar, 20, will serve 30 months in federal prison following a conviction involving firearms and drug distribution, according to a report from justice.gov.

The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman on November 12, 2026, follows a legal process that began with a January 2025 investigation into illegal activity at a residence in Bethany, Oklahoma. Diaz Aguilar is also ordered to undergo three years of supervised release after his prison term concludes.

The case highlights the intersection of narcotics trafficking and illegal weapons possession, a combination that federal prosecutors often target to curb local violent crime. Judge Dishman stated during the sentencing hearing that the term was necessary to protect the public and to deter similar criminal conduct.

Police investigation leads to firearms and drug charges

The investigation into Diaz Aguilar began in January 2025 when officers with the Bethany Police Department received information suggesting he was selling firearms, marijuana, PCP, and fentanyl from his home. Law enforcement officials monitored the residence and observed him meeting with an individual in a nearby park for a suspected drug transaction.

Following that observation, officers stopped Diaz Aguilar for a traffic violation and discovered two firearms in his vehicle, which he had kept close at hand during the transaction. This initial encounter led to a search warrant at his residence, where police seized many drugs and weapons.

The search of the Bethany home yielded the following items:

Approximately five pounds of marijuana
Approximately 500 THC vape cartridges
Materials used for drug distribution
Three additional firearms, including a multi-caliber pistol capable of accepting a large-capacity magazine

On December 3, 2025, Diaz Aguilar was charged by Information with two counts of being a drug user in possession of firearms and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He entered a guilty plea to all counts on February 5, 2026.

Federal partnerships against violent crime

This prosecution was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bethany Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly led the prosecution in the case.

The legal action is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce violent crime through coordinated partnerships between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. This specific case also falls under the umbrella of Operation Take Back America (OTBA), a broader Department of Justice effort to combat threats to public safety and violent crime across the country.

While some advocates for criminal justice reform argue that lengthy federal sentences for non-violent drug offenses can strain prison populations, federal authorities maintain that the presence of firearms during drug transactions increases the risk to community safety. In this instance, the court focused on the specific combination of illegal drug distribution and the possession of high-capacity firearms as the primary drivers for the 30-month sentence.

Public filings remain available for those seeking further details on the specific evidence presented during the proceedings.

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