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A Chisago County man is among several drug traffickers being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney in connection with arrests tied to methamphetamine and illegal narcotics networks connected to the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel.

The East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force was recognized by the U.S. Attorney for its contributions to building a successful case against Bruce Michael Orton, 44 and four other defendants.  Three entered guilty pleas alongside Orton and a fifth was recently found guilty after a six-day trial.  Sentencing for Orton is pending.

The U.S. Attorney in St. Paul,  recently announced a final conviction in a set of charges that the East Central Drug Task Force (DTF)contributed to.  The current task force commander is out of the Kanabec County sheriff’s office. Chisago County, and other east central counties, embed a deputy in the DTF operations. 

Chisago County Chief Deputy Wood said the task force and multiple partner agencies investigated  Orton and a connection to the cartel activity. The investigation into the trafficking is on-going.  

According to the U.S. Attorney Eric Anthony Rodriguez, 47, was recently found guilty after a trial before Judge Susan Nelson and the other suspects entered pleas.

Drug activity was taking place  throughout Minnesota as part of the cases, focused on from April 2024 to March 2025. The local authorities opened an investigation involving Orton in July 2024.  Search warrants were executed in homes in Columbia Heights, Rochester and Hastings, and at Orton’s home and other non-disclosed Chisago County properties, where firearms and narcotics were found.  

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