Arlington Men Sentenced in Fentanyl, Sex Trafficking Scheme

The men admitted to trafficking a runaway minor and distributing thousands of fentanyl pills.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Two Arlington men were sentenced to a combined 80 years in federal prison for their roles in a sex trafficking and fentanyl distribution operation. Jamal Howard, 52, received 50 years, and Renaldo Rojas, 27, received 30 years after pleading guilty to charges related to trafficking an underage runaway girl and distributing over 5,000 fentanyl pills.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of fentanyl distribution and sex trafficking in the North Texas region, with vulnerable minors being exploited. It also underscores the need for stronger law enforcement efforts and community resources to combat these intertwined criminal enterprises.

The details

According to court documents, in July 2024 an underage girl was reported as a runaway to Arlington police. Rojas provided the girl with fentanyl and offered to connect her with Howard in exchange for the drug. Howard then took the girl to his apartment, supplied her with pills, took photos of her, and posted commercial sex ads for her online. Howard trafficked the girl to several individuals and continued distributing fentanyl to Rojas through August 2024, with the total transactions exceeding 5,000 fentanyl pills.

  • In late July 2024, the girl was reported as a runaway to the Arlington Police Department.
  • In October 2025, Rojas and Howard pleaded guilty to their roles in the trafficking and distribution scheme.
  • In February 2026, Jamal Howard was sentenced to 50 years in prison, and Renaldo Rojas was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The players

Jamal Howard

A 52-year-old Arlington man who was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in the sex trafficking and fentanyl distribution operation.

Renaldo Rojas

A 27-year-old Arlington man who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the sex trafficking and fentanyl distribution operation.

Elnora Jordan

A 63-year-old Arlington resident who was sentenced to nearly two years in prison on money-laundering charges related to the distribution operation.

Yolanda Gonzales

A 23-year-old Hurst resident who was sentenced to one year in prison for communicating with Howard about purchasing fentanyl.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide in the coming weeks whether to allow Elnora Jordan and Yolanda Gonzales to serve their sentences in home confinement or at a halfway house.

The takeaway

This case highlights the devastating intersection of the opioid crisis and human trafficking, with vulnerable individuals being exploited for profit. It underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to address these intertwined issues, including enhanced law enforcement efforts, expanded social services, and community-based prevention programs.