White Earth Woman Faces Fentanyl, False Name Charges

White Earth (trfnews.i234.me) — A White Earth woman faces two charges following a Becker County traffic stop.

Rudy Nicole Mercado, 34, is charged with felony fifth-degree controlled substance possession.

She also faces a gross misdemeanor charge for allegedly giving police another person’s name.

The charges stem from an August 14, 2025, traffic stop on County Highway 34.

Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest

A Becker County deputy stopped a vehicle after noticing a damaged passenger-side taillight.

Mercado was riding as a passenger, according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators say Mercado initially provided another person’s name and birth date.

The deputy recognized Mercado from previous contacts, according to prosecutors.

Police later confirmed her identity using booking photographs and identifying tattoos.

Authorities also learned that Mercado had outstanding warrants.

She was arrested and transported to the Becker County Jail.

The driver also had an outstanding warrant, according to the complaint.

Police reported that the driver left the scene before field sobriety testing could begin.

Officers searched the surrounding area but did not locate her at that time.

Jail staff later searched Mercado’s belongings during the booking process.

The complaint says staff found a folded paper packet inside Mercado’s purse.

The packet contained a white powder-like substance, according to court records.

Investigators collected the packet as evidence.

A field test returned a presumptive positive result for fentanyl, prosecutors allege.

The substance and packaging weighed approximately 0.28 grams.

Mercado faces felony fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance containing fentanyl.

The complaint lists a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The charge also carries a possible fine of up to $10,000.

The false-name charge carries up to 364 days in jail.

It also carries a possible fine of up to $3,000.

The complaint also cites prior controlled substance convictions from 2022 and 2025.

The case is filed as Becker County court file 03-CR-25-2435.

Readers can review Minnesota Statute 152.025 for fifth-degree drug offenses.

The false-name law appears under Minnesota Statute 609.506.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

Mercado is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.