The last of five defendants charged last year in connection to their roles in a Mexican drug trafficking conspiracy distributing drugs across Minnesota has been found guilty by a jury, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen this week.
Eric Anthony Rodriguez, age 47, was found guilty in U.S. District Court for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Court documents detail that the Rodriguez conspired with other co-defendants to acquire and distribute large quantities of methamphetamine. The scheme was led and organized by Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar, referred to as the “Diaz-Aguilar Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO),” which operated and distributed methamphetamine throughout Minnesota from April 2024 to March 2025.
The Diaz-Aguilar DTO orchestrated large shipments of methamphetamine from outside the state, sometimes hundreds of pounds at a time, and distributed methamphetamine in northern, southern, and central Minnesota. During a nearly year-long investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 60 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,500 fentanyl pills, and more than $20,000 in U.S. currency from various individuals associated with the Diaz-Aguilar-DTO.
Agents also executed search warrants at stash houses in Columbia Heights, Hastings, and Rochester. Officers seized three pounds of methamphetamine from Eric 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. Additional evidence showed that the Diaz-Aguilar DTO was affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel, a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO).
Rodriguez was found guilty after a six-day jury trial before Judge Susan R. Nelson.
Defendants Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar, 33, Juan Martin Elvira, Jr., 36, Edward Gonzalez, 30, and Bruce Michael Orton, 44, all previously pled 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.
