Fifth Person Convicted in Massive Minnesota Drug Trafficking Conspiracy With Rochester Ties

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A fifth person has been convicted in a cartel-involved meth trafficking conspiracy that hide ties to Rochester

See Also: Man Who Died in Lake City House Fire Identified 

The U.S. Attorney's Office in April announced a nine-count indictment against five individuals, including 33-year-old Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar of Rochester. 

Diaz-Aguilar and three others, including the alleged leader, have since pleaded guilty in the federal case. 

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St. Paul Man Becomes Fifth Person Convicted in Minnesota Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

A news release issued Tuesday morning by the U.S. Attorney’s Office says a federal jury convicted 47-year-old Eric Anthony Rodriguez of St. Paul of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

Read More: Rochester Man Indicted in Drug Trafficking Case 

Authorities seized three pounds of methamphetamine from Rodriguez during a coordinated traffic stop in November, the news release says.

A sentencing date has not yet been announced. 

Feds: Trafficking Ring Busted Pounds of Meth & Hundreds of Fentanyl Pills During Investigation

Court documents indicate Rodriguez and the others acquired large amounts of methamphetamine from out of state then distributed the drug throughout Minnesota from April 2024 through March of last year. 

They were alleged to have stash houses in Rochester, Hastings and Columbia Heights, all of which were raided by law enforcement over the course of the 12-month investigation. 

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team and the other law enforcement agencies involved in the trafficking investigation seized approximately sixty pounds of methamphetamine, 1,500 fentanyl pills, and more than $20,000 in case from individuals associated with the drug trafficking group, the news release says. 

Evidence presented at the trial indicated the drug trafficking operation was affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel, which is classified as a Transnational Criminal Organization, the news release says.