Law enforcement seized more than 67 pounds of methamphetamine, $30,000 in cash
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced an indictment charging HUMBERTO TORRES-RODRIGUEZ, 38, JOSE ALFREDO PENALOZA ROMERO, 22, and IRWIN ENRIQUE BECERRA, 22, with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. The defendants will make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court at a later date.
According to the indictment and documents filed in court, on April 3, 2019, Colorado law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a California-plated vehicle. The driver, TORRES-RODRIGUEZ, consented to a search of the vehicle. Officers recovered more than 55 pounds of methamphetamine in a false compartment, or “trap," inside the vehicle. The following day, TORRES-RODRIGUEZ made phone calls to ROMERO and BECERRA to coordinate the delivery and pickup of the methamphetamine in Minnesota. On April 5, 2019, law enforcement established surveillance at the defendants’ agreed-upon meeting location in Bloomington, Minnesota. The three defendants arrived at the meeting location and law enforcement observed BECERRA give TORRES-RODRIGUEZ money in exchange for the methamphetamine. All three defendants were taken into custody. Following the arrests, law enforcement executed a follow-up search warrant at ROMERO's residence in Minneapolis and recovered an additional sixteen (half-pound to pound) packages of methamphetamine and approximately $30,000 in U.S. currency.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team, and the St. Paul Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Winter and Bradley M. Endicott.
Defendant Information:
HUMBERTO TORRES-RODRIGUEZ, 38
Los Angeles, Calif.
Charges:
* Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
JOSE ALFREDO PENALOZA ROMERO, 22
Minneapolis, Minn.
Charges:
* Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
* Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
IRWIN ENRIQUE BECERRA, 22
Kansas City, Mo.
Charges:
* Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
* Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
