HOLLIDAYSBURG — The state Attorney General’s Office will recommend a sentence of about 16 to 32 years for the city man convicted on all counts in March for his role in a Blair County drug-trafficking ring.

Matthew Lewis Rodriguez, 40, was found guilty of 10 felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and single felony counts of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver, corrupt organizations, dealing in unlawful proceeds and knowledge that property is proceeds of an illegal act following a two-day jury trial that saw Rodriguez testify on his own behalf.

During the trial, Rodriguez was portrayed by prosecutors as being the driver and key distributor in a drug-trafficking ring transporting cocaine from Baltimore to Altoona.

Rodriguez was scheduled for sentencing Monday afternoon in front of Senior Judge Michael A. George of Adams County, but the hearing was continued due to an administrative error. George stated that, despite ordering a pre-sentence investigation be completed prior to Rodriguez’s sentencing, one was not completed.

Rodriguez told George he wanted a pre-sentence investigation to be done before he is sentenced, and George agreed. George then issued another order for a pre-sentence investigation and continued the sentencing hearing until 9 a.m. July 13.

A pre-sentence investigation is a comprehensive background check completed by a probation officer following a defendant’s conviction or guilty plea. The probation officer provides the findings to the judge in a pre-sentence report to assist in determining an appropriate sentence.

While the sentencing itself was continued, Rodriguez told George that several family members had driven four hours to provide character statements on his behalf. George allowed those individuals to give their statements at that time to save them a second drive.

The first statement was given by Rodriguez’s aunt, Irma Camaligan, who asked George for leniency.

“He has never been in trouble,” Camaligan said. “He has been a model citizen until now.”

A second aunt, Milagros Rodriguez-Cruz, also spoke, saying that Rodriguez has “always been a hard worker” and a “hands-on parent.”

“What happens to (Rodriguez), not only happens to him, but is also going to happen to his whole family,” Rodriguez-Cruz said.

In his statement, Rodriguez’s uncle Cosme Camaligan described Rodriguez as “very family-oriented.” He told George that Rodriguez’s actions stemmed from his desire to help his family and asked George to give Rodriguez a second chance.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, Deputy Attorney General David Gorman said he would be recommending a sentence of 16 to 32 years at the new sentencing date.

Rodriguez is being held at the Blair County Prison after his bail was increased from $75,000 to $250,000 and then revoked by George following his conviction.

Rodriguez’s co-defendant Kirsten Wright was also scheduled to be sentenced Monday, but her hearing was also continued to July 13 at the request of defense attorney Kristen Anastasi.

Wright pleaded guilty on March 2 to two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and a felony count of criminal use of a communication facility, online court documents state. She remains free on $500,000 unsecured bail.

Rodriguez and Wright were charged alongside Rickey Joyner, 45; Tareek Alquan Hemingway, 32; Laura Rutherford Horne, 28; Cecylia Antoinette Thompson, 33; and Milton Lavale Williams, 49, as a part of a drug-trafficking ring that came to light after the November 2022 overdose death of 26-year-old Marlana Koehle.

Joyner, who is the only co-defendant to be charged with third-degree murder, is scheduled for jury selection today, with a three-day trial to begin Wednesday.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.