A Fostoria gym that usually sells workouts is now in the spotlight for a very different kind of heavy lifting. Federal agents say Epolito Rodriguez, owner of Power Up in Fostoria, was arrested in late February after investigators traced kilo-sized bricks of suspected cocaine and large stacks of cash back to his business.
According to investigators, roughly 40 kilo‑bricks were packed into duffel bags in the gym’s basement, while cash bundles totaling more than half a million dollars turned up in a sleeper cab during a separate traffic stop. Rodriguez remains in custody as the case moves toward federal review.
Searches Turned Up Kilo Bricks And Cash Inside The Gym
Investigators executing a search warrant in mid‑February say they headed straight to the business's basement, where they uncovered two large duffel bags allegedly stuffed with about 40 kilo‑bricks of suspected cocaine. Agents also reported finding two additional kilograms, a scale, and about $13,000 in cash on the premises.
Roughly $10,000 of that money was discovered tucked into a shoebox hidden in an office ceiling, according to WTVG. The search effectively turned the gym into a crime scene, as agents cataloged the alleged drugs, cash, and equipment.
Semi Truck Stop Yielded $665,480 In Duct‑Taped Cash
Investigators say electronic surveillance captured Rodriguez meeting up with a semi‑truck at a gravel lot in Findlay. Not long after that, officers stopped the truck near Columbus and took a closer look.
Hidden under the sleeper mattress, agents say they found dozens of duct‑taped bundles of cash. Once counted, the packages totaled $665,480, as reported by WKRC.
Federal Grand Jury Review And Charges
Rodriguez has been charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and the case has been sent to a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, according to WOIO.
Authorities also allege that a search of Rodriguez’s home turned up $139,100 in cash, including vacuum‑sealed packages labeled “40k.” Court records indicate he has waived a preliminary hearing and remains held at the Lucas County Jail while federal authorities weigh formal charges.
Local Business Context
Local reporting identifies Power Up as a Fostoria fitness business and notes it is not affiliated with a separate Findlay company called Power Up Fitness. Investigators began monitoring Rodriguez in late 2025, according to case filings, a months‑long timeline that ended with February’s searches and the subsequent semi‑truck stop, per WKRC.
What Happens Next
If a federal grand jury returns an indictment, prosecutors would formally file federal charges in U.S. District Court, sending the case into arraignment and pretrial proceedings. Officials say the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ohio State Highway Patrol led the investigation, with more filings likely to come as the case moves through the federal system.
