Rochester Man Admits to Racketeering in Drug Trafficking Case
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man has pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge connected to a drug trafficking investigation that began in 2015 when Rochester Police responded to reports that a gunman with an AK-47 had opened fire on a home occupied by three children.
Several bullets entered the northwest Rochester home, but no one was hurt. The father of the children told the police he owed money to 40-year-old Joshua Cunningham, who was later sentenced to over six years in prison for the actual shooting.
38-year-old Sean Biren, who admitted to the racketeering count today in Olmsted County court through a plea agreement that resulted in the dismissal of 8 other felony charges, later confessed that he hid the AK-47 at the request of Cunningham. While searching for the gun, police came upon a synthetic marijuana manufacturing operation in a rental storage unit, along with over 30 pounds of the drug. Biren and Cunningham were accused of using the proceeds from selling the drugs to purchase gold and silver coins, and other items.
Biren is scheduled to be sentenced June 12th, while Cunningham is scheduled to make a court appearance next week on the drug and racketeering charges stemming from the synthetic marijuana operation.