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Source: US FBI

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman was sentenced in federal court to 50 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kgs or more of cocaine.

According to court documents, Gisselle Cabrera Rodriguez, 25, was pulled over by Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Feb. 6, 2024, for committing multiple traffic violations. A search of her vehicle resulted in the discovery of 1.2 kgs of cocaine located in the front passenger compartment. Two cell phones were also seized in the search. Rodriguez was arrested and a federal search warrant was executed on her residence, leading to the discovery of another 2.3 kgs of cocaine packaged in two bundles. Agents also located $45,700 in cash, which was determined to be proceeds from Rodriguez’s drug trafficking activity. Rodriguez also admitted to trafficking at least five kgs of cocaine per week during the five to six months leading up to her arrest.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of a two-count indictment. In addition to the imprisonment, Rodriguez was ordered to forfeit the $45,700 located in the search warrant.

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case with valuable assistance from BCSO and the San Antonio Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case.

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Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

Astronauts may take five personal items to commemorate a mission, and Steve knew one item he wanted to take.

“To express my gratitude—not only to my sister for her great influence as a trailblazer and a person with grit and fortitude, but also to thank this great organization, the FBI—I decided to fly this FBI flag,” he said. 

Paula worked at the Office of the General Counsel at FBI Headquarters at the time, and a colleague who ran the FBI Tour got a large flag for Paula to give Steve.  

“Everyone thought it would be really cool,” said Paula.  

On February 11, 1997, the Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the FBI flag safely in tow. Steve spent nearly 20 hours in space during the spacewalk—an experience he called “magical.” 

The shuttle landed on February 21. Tradition holds that every astronaut autographs each personal item that traveled on the flight after landing. The signed flag was originally placed in a special section of the FBI Tour. Today, the flag hangs in the Director’s corridor at Headquarters, next to a certificate of authenticity and images from Steve’s flight. 

Source: US FBI

What is the best career or life advice you have to give?

During my time in the police department, my mentor wisely told me: “[Fill in the blank] is like dust, dishes, and laundry. It’ll always be there. Sometimes you have to let it go.” That “blank” could be fear, anxiety, or whatever limitations you may have. Since they probably aren’t going away on their own, push through.

Who made a difference in your career? How?

Early in my career I worked with “Louie,” who was at the end of a 37-year career with his department and as an FBI task force officer. He always answered late phone calls to help his squad mates on a case. He was patient in helping newcomers learn the details of the work, and he inspired me to always pursue the right answer—even if it was not the one I wanted. He was a detective—to his very last day on the job. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. If you needed something, Louie had someone he could call. I saw the dedication to work, his commitment to family, and how he upheld the highest values of being a law enforcement officer and investigator for the FBI. I still try to follow the example he set.

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

For years, he threatened state legislators and police officers and business owners. Some people even had to move to end the harassment. You have a right to free speech in this country, but you do not have the right to threaten and terrorize people. It felt good to be able to identify the person responsible for these threats and bring him into court.

What does it mean to make room at the table? Why does it matter?

Diversity matters in organizations—especially in organizations like the FBI. Several years ago on a search in a crimes against children case, we needed the mother and child to leave the home so we could carry out the warrant. The mother was understandably distraught and unwilling to cooperate. I was able to recognize her fear and speak with her mother to mother. She needed to know that she would be given enough time to pack up what she needed for herself and her child. I was also able to explain to her what was going to happen next. By seeing the why behind her reaction, I was able to de-escalate a tense situation.

Source: US FBI

Share the thing you’re most proud of from your FBI career.

I am still as proud and in awe of being part of this organization as I was on the day I received my credentials and badge from Director Louis Freeh. I am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish in my career. But most importantly I am proud of the people I work with. I’ve been able to see the new agents and supervisors that Icve had the chance to mentor grow and mature in their roles. They are the future, and I am proud to have been part of it—even if in a small way.

What is the best career or life advice you’ve been given?

I’ve been fortunate to have had women in the FBI who provided me with challenges, guidance, and mentorship at different stages of my career. The first such person was my principal firearms instructor at Quantico, Supervisory Special Agent Mary Ann Krauss, whose motto was: attitude.

Looking back, it is such a simple word that means so much and impacts all aspects of life and career. Attitude is how you carry yourself, attitude is how you tackle a case, attitude is how you deal with adversity, attitude is how you treat others. Attitude determines your path. Still to this day, I think of that simple motto. My attitude is to walk with confidence and not let anyone or any situation intimidate me, to be determined and focused on the mission, to always do my best, to be humble—and never forget to laugh.

Source: US FBI

What is the best career or life advice you have to give?

I’ve had several people who have given me great advice at different points in my career. The biggest thing that helped me was this: It’s not a failure if you get knocked down, it’s a failure if you stay down. I believe that if you work hard, do the right thing, and treat people well, it’s going to show.

What does it mean to make room at the table? Why does it matter?

Diversity is important to the FBI. We all come from different backgrounds and different ways of thinking. I often think about Abraham Lincoln and his decision to choose advisors whose views conflicted with his own. If you engage with the people who disagree with you, it will force you to truly think everything through and find the best way forward.

Source: US FBI

FBI Director Christopher Wray and United Kingdom MI5 Director General Ken McCallum urged business leaders to be aware of the threat from the Chinese government and help the government agencies protect corporate secrets from theft by China.

“By volume, most of what is at risk from Chinese Communist Party aggression is not, so to speak, my stuff. It’s yours,” McCallum said. “The world-leading expertise, technology, research, and commercial advantage developed and held by people in this room, and others like you.”

The Chinese government has a longstanding practice of hacking and stealing proprietary information to try to get an economic advantage.

Wray also spoke about the China threat and emphasized the importance of partnerships to address it. This is the first time the two leaders have gathered to address a global threat with an audience of business and academic leaders. 

“We’re not just in the business of articulating problems, we’re doing something about them, together with MI5, with the private sector itself, with other government partners,” Wray said.

Wray encouraged the business leaders to partner with the FBI and MI5 so they can have the appropriate intelligence about this threat. The information can also help companies decide whether partnering with China is worth the risk of having proprietary information stolen. Companies must take the long view in making decisions about China, just as the FBI and MI5 are approaching the threat from a long-term perspective.

“Maintaining a technological edge may do more to increase a company’s value than would partnering with a Chinese company to sell into that huge Chinese market, only to find the Chinese government and your ‘partner’ stealing and copying your innovation,” Wray said.