Jury Convicts Rochester Area Man in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News)- A federal jury has convicted a Rochester-area man for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger announced Tuesday the jury returned a conviction for one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine against 39-year-old Christopher Edwards after a four-day trial wrapped up last week.
Court records say law enforcement seized four kilograms of cocaine from Edwards during an October 2021 traffic stop in Olmsted County. Evidence presented during the trial indicated law enforcement learned that Edwards and 25-year-old Chloe Johnson were dealing a variety of drugs throughout Rochester and southeast Minnesota from May 2021 until their October arrest.
Luger says law enforcement tracked a vehicle Edwards had rented that made a trip to Austin, Texas and quickly returned to Minnesota on the day of the traffic stop. During the traffic stop, authorities also executed search warrants at Edwards’ and Johnson’s residences and also found what was described as various amounts of cocaine packaged for distribution, heroin, fentanyl and meth.
Edwards’ sentencing date will be announced at a later time. Johnson pled guilty for her role in the drug trafficking conspiracy in May and is scheduled to be sentenced in February.
