Cocaine & Fentanyl Bust at Rochester Home Leads to Guilty Plea

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man has entered a plea agreement to settle a felony drug case. 

See Also: Murder Discovered After Eyota Crash Leads to 40-Year Prison Sentence 

He was charged earlier this year after a Rochester Police Department executed a search warrant his home. The criminal complaint indicates there were juveniles at the home at the time of the search.

The plea agreement was filed on Thursday. 

Get our free mobile app

Fentanyl and Cocaine Bust at Rochester Home Leads to Guilty Plea

34-year-old James Daniel Williams was charged in March with two counts of first-degree drug sales, one count of first-degree drug possession, and one count of second-degree drug possession. 

He also had an active arrest warrant issued by the Minnesota Department of Corrections at the time of the police raid, according to the court document. The raid occurred at a residence in the 1100 block of 1st Ave. NE.

The charges say investigators a white powdery substance that was consistent with cocaine and dollar bills on the kitchen table. 

A wider search of the residence, which was authorized based on Williams’ supervised release conditions, led to the discovery of three plastic baggies in a kitchen drawer containing a large amount of a white powdery substance, the complaint says. 

See Also: Elgin Man Charged for Disturbing Incident Outside of Rochester Elementary School 

The detectives also reported finding two digital scales and packaging materials, the court document says.

The three baggies contained more than 35 grams of cocaine and more than 39 grams of fentanyl powder, the complaint says. 

Williams has agreed to plead guilty to one of first-degree drug sale counts in exchange for the dismissal of the other count and the possession charges, according to the plea agreement.

He also admitted to a test refusal count in a separate DWI case, according to court records. 

A sentencing date for Williams has not yet been set. He is due in court to finalize the plea agreement on Friday.

Minnesota Court records show Williams' criminal history includes a felony conviction for DUI involving drug impairment in Mower County that resulted in the 42 month prison sentence.