Fostoria Business Owner Faces Federal Charges Following Massive Cocaine and Cash Seizure in Findlay

Authorities arrested Fostoria business owner Epolito Rodriguez after finding 42kg of cocaine and over $800,000 in cash at his business and home.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 4:40 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Cleveland 19 News

Surveillance and Initial Contact

A multi-jurisdictional investigation led to the arrest of Epolito Rodriguez on February 27, charging him with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. According to federal court records, investigators initiated surveillance on Rodriguez as he parked in a gravel lot west of a Walmart on West Trenton Avenue in Findlay. During this time, authorities observed a black semi-truck nearby, where a man was seen standing in the sleeper berth. Investigators then witnessed Rodriguez transferring two heavy duffel bags from the vicinity of the truck into his business, Power Up.

Highway Interdiction and Major Cash Recovery

Later that same evening, law enforcement located the suspect semi-truck near Columbus and conducted a traffic stop. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of numerous duct-taped packages of currency hidden beneath a mattress in the sleeper berth. The recovered money totaled $665,480, suggesting a high-level narcotics transaction had recently taken place.

Raid on "Power Up" Business Premises

Following the observations in Findlay and the highway stop, authorities obtained a search warrant for Rodriguez’s business. Inside Power Up, investigators located the two large duffel bags previously seen during surveillance. These bags contained approximately 40 kilogram-sized bricks of suspected cocaine. Two additional kilograms were found in other areas of the business, along with a small scale situated near an open brick of the drug.