Federal Jury Finds St. Paul Man Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury convicted a St. Paul man of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

Following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright, Hugo Escudero, 45, was convicted on December 9, 2022, of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on September 22, 2021, Escudero was arrested in the parking lot of a Home Depot in St. Louis Park while attempting to sell one kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of cocaine for $38,000. Law enforcement also recovered approximately 13.5 kilograms (30 lbs.) of cocaine at two properties belonging to Escudero.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Metro Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Matthew D. Forbes.