Man pleads guilty to drug possession charge

Published 9:10 am Saturday, August 18, 2018

Jean Michael Miranda-Sanchez, 24, of Austin pleaded guilty to felony second-degree possession of 25 grams or more of cocaine or methamphetamine as part of a plea agreement on Friday in Mower County District Court.

The charge was reduced from felony first-degree possession of 100 grams or more of methamphetamine as part of the agreement.

A charge of felony aggravated first-degree drugs-more than 100 grams of methamphetamine-two aggravating factors will be dismissed at sentencing.

Jean Michael Miranda-Sanchez, 24

Email newsletter signup

Miranda-Sanchez was arrested, along with Rodolfo Alonso Portillo, 31, of Rochester, on May 10 after police observed them picking up a package that contained five pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of cocaine from an Austin residence.

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul Police Department, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Austin Police Department and the Mower County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint operation after the MSP Police intercepted the drugs — which came from California — at the MSP airport, according to Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger.

The drugs were delivered to an East Oakland Avenue address, where Portillo and Miranda-Sanchez picked up the package and placed it inside their vehicle, Krueger said. Police stopped their vehicle and arrested them.

A narcotics investigator estimated the street value of the drugs, if sold in 1/8 ounce “eight balls,” was $100,000.

Portillo is currently awaiting trial on charges of felony aggravated first-degree drugs-more than 100 grams of methamphetamine-two aggravating factors, felony first-degree possession of 100 grams or more of methamphetamine and felony first-degree drug possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. His jury trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 1.

Miranda-Sanchez will be sentenced on Feb. 21.