Brownsville man in murder-for-hire plot sentenced to 40 years

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Brownsville man on Monday was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of his ex-wife.

Jose Arnoldo Rodriguez, 41, waived his right to have a trial by jury and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of murder, according to court records.

Court records obtained by ValleyCentral show that in November 2020, Rodriguez hired two hitmen, identified as Charly Angel Carrillo-Torres and Jonathan Xavier Roman-Martinez, to kill his ex-wife, Adela Gonzalez.

Rodriguez's wife, Cynthia Margarita Olvera, is also accused of conspiring with Rodriguez and allegedly directed the men to Gonzalez's apartment, where she was found in her bed, face up with a gunshot wound to the head.

Court records allege that Rodriguez and Olvera agreed to pay both hitmen to kill Gonzalez in exchange for money and a vehicle.

Rodriguez and the two hitmen were arrested nearly five months after Gonzalez was killed, and Olvera was on the run for years before she was arrested last year in November.

Olvera, who is accused of engaging in organized criminal activity, capital murder, burglary of a habitation, and conspiracy to commit capital murder, pleaded not guilty to charges in January 2025. Olvera's jury trial started on Tuesday.

Carillo-Torres and Roman-Martinez, who were charged with capital murder and burglary, both took plea deals in 2024, according to court records.

Punishment hearings have not been set and both men remain in Cameron County jail.