Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar, the alleged leader of a Minnesota methamphetamine trafficking organisation linked to the Sureños gang, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Diaz-Aguilar, 34, also known as “Homie”, was given the 240-month sentence by US District Judge Susan Richard Nelson on Wednesday, September 9, after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Prosecutors said Diaz-Aguilar managed the Diaz-Aguilar Drug Trafficking Organisation, which supplied drugs across Minnesota and into Chicago. Court documents describe him as a member of the Sureños, a transnational criminal organisation originating in southern California.
Methamphetamine trafficking investigation
The investigation began in Rochester, Minnesota, during the summer of 2024. A search of a suspected accomplice’s home in August uncovered about 7.6lb of methamphetamine, 1,500 M-30 fentanyl pills made to resemble prescription medication, cannabis, mobile phones and nearly $8,000 in cash.
Investigators examining the phone found messages with a contact known as “Homie”, who was identified as Diaz-Aguilar. The communications indicated that drug transactions had been taking place since at least April 2024.
Between October 2024 and January 2025, law enforcement carried out three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Diaz-Aguilar, according to court documents.
A subsequent search of a stash house in Hastings, Minnesota, uncovered a large quantity of methamphetamine and used packaging. Investigators said the evidence suggested hundreds of pounds of the drug had recently passed through the property.
In December 2024, Diaz-Aguilar travelled to Chicago with two other men to collect a bulk shipment. As the group returned to Minnesota in two vehicles, police stopped one of the cars and found about 42lb of methamphetamine in its boot.
Searches of Diaz-Aguilar’s home and phones produced messages about drug prices and sales, including discussions about his access to 170lb of methamphetamine. Agents also found a ledger in a wardrobe recording bulk drug sales to other people.
The wider organisation was described by prosecutors as being associated with, and supplied by, transnational criminal organisations trafficking narcotics from Mexico.
Several other defendants in the case have also been sentenced. Eric Anthony Rodriguez received 260 months after a six-day trial, while Bruce Michael Orton was sentenced to 140 months. Edward Gonzalez received 120 months and Juan Martin Elvira Jr was given 75 months.
“Today, the ringleader of an organisation responsible for flooding our streets with methamphetamine was brought to justice,” said Dustin Gillespie, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Omaha field division.
“No one is above the law and today’s sentencing is yet another reminder that DEA will work tirelessly to take these criminals and their poisons out of our neighbourhoods.”
