Fifth Defendant Convicted in Statewide Meth Trafficking Case

(St. Paul, MN) — A 47-year-old Minnesota man is the fifth defendant convicted in a large-scale meth trafficking conspiracy tied to a Mexican cartel.

Federal prosecutors say Eric Rodriguez was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute.

Investigators say he worked with the Sinaloa Cartel, which moved large shipments of meth into Minnesota from April 2024 through March 2025.

Agents seized about 60 pounds of meth, 1,500 fentanyl pills, and more than 20 thousand dollars during the yearlong investigation.

Rodriguez was arrested after officers found three pounds of meth during a coordinated traffic stop in November 2025.

Evidence at trial showed he received dozens of additional pounds for distribution.