SAN DIEGO — Two defendants have pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle R-22 refrigerant from Mexico into the United States for American air conditioning companies, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.

Ricky Jesus Rodriguez and his daughter, Jasmine Rodriguez, entered their guilty pleas in federal court on Oct. 16. They admitted participating in a months-long operation involving the illegal importation of R-22, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) subject to U.S. restrictions.

Ricky Rodriguez admitted receiving tens of thousands of dollars to coordinate the operation. He began smuggling R-22 in summer 2023 and transported five to 10 tanks per trip dozens of times. He also recruited additional smugglers, including his daughter.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, at least two heating and air conditioning companies recruited and paid smugglers to conceal R-22 tanks in vehicles and transport them across the U.S.-Mexico border. The defendants’ guilty pleas concern their participation in the conspiracy.

R-22 was widely used in air conditioning systems before its phaseout. The refrigerant depletes the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Its production and import have been phased out or restricted under U.S. regulations and international agreements, including the Montreal Protocol.

The case underscores the importance of refrigerant compliance and lawful sourcing for HVAC businesses. Contractors must account for applicable restrictions when purchasing and handling refrigerants, particularly those subject to phaseout requirements.

Ricky Rodriguez is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 11, 2027, at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Jasmine Rodriguez’s plea agreement allows her to defer entry of judgment if she meets release conditions and maintains good behavior for 12 months. Her case would then be dismissed if she satisfies those requirements.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and the Environmental Protection Agency are members of the Justice Department’s Trade Fraud Task Force, which investigates trade-related offenses, including the smuggling of prohibited goods.