Sting Leads to Bust of Massive Rochester Meth Trafficking Operation

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Two Rochester men are facing charges that stem from a meth trafficking sting. 

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Court documents filed on Friday allege they were involved in multiple sales of pounds of methamphetamine to a Rochester police informant and an undercover officer.

Both men were taken into custody on Thursday. 

Rochester Men Charged in 22.6 Pound Methamphetamine Bust

36-year-old Francisco Fuerte Rangel and 26-year-old Victor Manuel Garzon Machuca are each facing one count of first-degree aggravated controlled substance crime. 

The criminal complaint alleges Rangel sold an informant and undercover officer a combined 16.5 pounds of meth over the course of multiple controlled buys conducted throughout Rochester between January and March of this year. 

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After the first buy, Rangel drove to a home in southwest Rochester that was identified as Machuca’s residence, court documents say. 

Following the final buy, which was near an unnamed Rochester park on Thursday, law enforcement surrounded the area and took Rangel into custody. 

Searches Lead to Discovery of Two-Man Meth Trafficking Operation in Rochester

Authorities then executed a search warrant at Rangel’s home in southeast Rochester where they located an additional 488.6 grams of meth, the complaints say. 

Police also executed a search warrant at Machuca’s southwest Rochester residence where they found $3,800 in cash. Bills that were documented as part of the controlled buys were included in the cash discovery, according to the charges. 

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Officers also found a scale used for measuring large items during the search of Machuca’s home.

The complaints also allege Machuca was supplying Rangel with the methamphetamine sold to the informant and undercover officer. 

In all the duo is accused of selling or possessing 10,258.5 grams of methamphetamine, which equated to about 22.6 pounds, according to the complaints. 

Both men made their first court appearances on Friday. Conditional bail for each was set at $250,000. 

Machuca and Rangel are each due back in court later this month.