Rochester Woman Given Chance to Avoid Prison in 2020 Meth Case

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM) - A woman who was arrested in May of last year in connection with a significant drug investigation in Olmsted County was sentenced yesterday for a drug conviction stemming from an investigation two years ago.

36-year-old Marina Garza was given a stayed 78-month prison sentence and was placed on probation for 10 years. She earlier entered a guilty plea to a first-degree drug charge involving the sale of cocaine or methamphetamine as part of a plea agreement that resulted in the dismissal of a second-degree drug possession charge.

The case involved an investigation into methamphetamine sales in the Rochester area that began in August 2020. Garza was arrested and charged in December of that year following a traffic stop in Eyota that led to the discovery of more than 14 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle. The criminal complaint says another 25 grams of the drug were found hidden in her underpants while Garza was being processed into the Olmsted County Jail.

Garza's arrest last year followed a traffic stop conducted by members of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Team and the State Patrol as part of a month-long drug investigation. She and a man were in an SUV in which investigators found nearly a half pound of methamphetamine.