One of several men charged last year in connection to a Sinaloa cartel-linked drug trafficking organization has been sentenced to over 21 years in prison for his role, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen announced last week.
Eric Anthony Rodriguez, 47, was sentenced to 260 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Rodriguez was one of five men charged in the organization that authorities previously said had been operating and distributing controlled substances throughout Minnesota since at least 2024 to March 2025.
Court documents and the record at trial detailed that Rodriguez conspired with other co-defendants to acquire and distribute hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine in an operation that was led and organized by Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar.
During a nearly year-long investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 60 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,500 fentanyl pills, and more than $20,000 from various individuals associated with the Diaz-Aguilar organization. Additional evidence showed that the Diaz-Aguilar operation was affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel, a transnational criminal organization.
Alpha News previously reported that agents executed search warrants at stash houses in Columbia Heights, Hastings, and Rochester as part of the investigation. Officers seized three pounds of methamphetamine from Rodriguez in a coordinated traffic stop in November 2025, and evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Rodriguez received dozens of additional pounds of methamphetamine for distribution.
Rodriguez was previously convicted by a jury on Feb. 10, 2026, and was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson last week. Nelson indicated that the sentence reflected Rodriguez’s role as a “crucial workhorse” in the organization. Judge Nelson also noted that the sentence was based on the harm methamphetamine causes to Minnesota communities through addiction and overdose deaths.
“Today’s sentencing reflects my office’s commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable. Rodriguez played a significant role in a conspiracy that pushed methamphetamine across Minnesota, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Rosen.
The other four defendants, Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar, 33, Juan Martin Elvira, Jr., 36, Edward Gonzalez, 30, and Bruce Michael Orton, 44, all previously pleaded guilty.
The case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Minnesota State Patrol, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Chisago County Sheriff’s Office, East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, Hastings Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Cannon River Drug Task Force, and the New Prague Police Department.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
