Twin Cities Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty in Major Methamphetamine Trafficking Case
Published: June 24, 2026.
WEST ST PAUL, MINNESOTA—A Twin Cities man accused of selling large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl to undercover investigators in Dakota and Hennepin counties has been sentenced to four years in prison after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors earlier this year.
According to Dakota County court records, Ernesto Campos Gonzalez, 52, pleaded guilty on April 27, 2026, to a first-degree controlled substance crime involving the sale of methamphetamine. On June 24, Dakota County District Court Judge Stacey E. Sorensen Green sentenced Gonzalez to 48 months in prison, a sentence that represents a downward departure from Minnesota's sentencing guidelines. Gonzalez was also awarded 261 days of jail credit for time already served while the case was pending.
The sentence concludes a case that stemmed from a Dakota County Drug Task Force investigation into alleged drug trafficking activity occurring across multiple Twin Cities communities during the summer of 2025.
Original Story: Richfield and West St. Paul Sting: Man Charged After Allegedly Selling Over 500 Grams of Meth and Fentanyl
Undercover Drug Purchases
According to the original criminal complaint, investigators with the Dakota County Drug Task Force conducted two undercover drug purchases involving Gonzalez. The first transaction occurred on July 24, 2025, near East 73rd Street and Elliot Avenue in Richfield. During that controlled buy, an undercover officer allegedly purchased approximately 55.74 grams of fentanyl from Gonzalez.
Less than a week later, on July 30, 2025, investigators arranged a second transaction near Stryker Avenue and Bernard Avenue in West St. Paul. Authorities alleged Gonzalez sold approximately 450.54 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer during that operation.
Because the transactions occurred within 90 days and involved multiple counties, prosecutors were permitted under Minnesota law to aggregate the sales into a single prosecution in Dakota County.
Guilty Plea Reached in April
Court records show Gonzalez entered a guilty plea on April 27, 2026.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed one first-degree controlled substance charge. Gonzalez instead pleaded guilty to a first-degree controlled substance offense involving the sale of cocaine or methamphetamine during a 90-day period. The conviction carries a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
The sentencing order filed June 24 shows the dismissed charge involved a first-degree controlled substance crime related to the sale of cocaine or methamphetamine involving more than 100 grams, while Gonzalez was convicted on the amended first-degree sale charge tied to the July 2025 investigation.
Judge Grants Downward Departure
While first-degree controlled substance crimes often result in substantially longer prison terms, the court approved a downward durational departure from Minnesota's sentencing guidelines and imposed a 48-month prison sentence.
A departure report filed with the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission indicates the court cited several mitigating factors in support of the reduced sentence, including that Gonzalez played a minor or passive role in the offense, accepted responsibility, and showed remorse. The report also notes that the sentence was imposed pursuant to a plea agreement.
The departure report specifically classified the sentence as a "Mitigated/Downward Prison Duration" departure, meaning the prison term imposed was shorter than the presumptive guideline sentence.
Sentence and Release
Under the sentencing order, Gonzalez was committed to the custody of the Minnesota Commissioner of Corrections and ordered to serve his sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud.
As with most Minnesota prison sentences, Gonzalez will generally serve approximately two-thirds of the sentence in custody and may serve the remaining portion on supervised release, provided he complies with correctional requirements.
Original Allegations
When charges were first filed in October 2025, prosecutors requested substantial bail and argued that Gonzalez posed a significant flight risk. Prosecutors cited the large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine involved in the investigation and alleged that Gonzalez had connections to a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization.
Court records from the initial proceedings also indicated that prosecutors expressed concern that Gonzalez could leave the country if released from custody pending trial.
With the June 24, 2026 sentencing, the criminal case against Gonzalez has now been resolved.
Provided by Dakota County Jail.
Written by: Juan Perez
