In Union City murder case centered on 20-pound meth deal and counterfeit cash, fourth suspect is arrested

OAKLAND — A fourth person has been arrested and charged with murder in the April shooting death of a Chico man who police say was duped into bringing up 20 pounds of methamphetamine from Southern California as part of a robbery plot.

Anthony Marco Rodriquez, 49, of Soledad, was charged with murder and robbery in the April 9 death of 43-year-old Karim Martinez. Rodriquez is the last of four suspects to be arrested. Antonio Rodriguez, 24, and Stephanie Ledon, 31, also face murder charges, and 31-year-old Miranda King is charged with accessory.

In court records, police allege that Rodriquez, Rodrigues, and Ledon plotted to “buy” 20 pounds of methamphetamine from Martinez and convinced him to travel down to Bakersfield to retrieve the drugs. But instead of cash, they allegedly gave him $23,000 in counterfeit bills for the deal.

After Martinez accepted an envelope containing the fake cash, Rodriguez allegedly shot him in the head three times. Martinez was pronounced dead a little after 2 a.m. on April 9, after paramedics found him near Eric Court and Kenita Way in Union City.

Afterwards, the suspects allegedly divided up the methamphetamine between them, according to police. A fifth suspected co-conspirator, who police have not publicly named, is still wanted on murder charges.

King is Rodriguez’s girlfriend, authorities said. She’s accused of picking Rodriguez up and taking him back to the Chico area after the crime, and authorities said she was aware of Rodriguez’s purpose for driving to the Bay Area.

Afterwards, Rodriquez allegedly told Rodriguez to break his phone, erase all its text messages, and flee the Bay Area, and Rodriguez told Rodriquez he had wiped down the involved vehicle and burned it. But police later recovered the car, which had been dumped in Oakland, authorities say.

Rodriquez has pleaded not guilty and his next court date has been set for March, records show. He is being held in Santa Rita Jail without bail.