Charges: Man Had 18 Pounds Of Meth With Intent To Sell
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 21-year-old Anoka man is accused of possessing more than 18 pounds of methamphetamine at his home valued at up to $1,000,000, according to charges filed in Anoka County Court.
Cesar Ruben Fletes-Ortiz was charged with two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell in connection with the case.
According to the charges, The Anoka Hennepin Drug Task Force with assistance from an Anoka SWAT team executed a search warrant last week at a home on the 4000 block of 7th Avenue in Anoka. Authorities took Fletes-Ortiz into custody at the residence while they searched the house. During a search of the residence, authorities found a $5 bill with a substance on it later identified as methamphetamine in his bedroom. They also found a gun safe in the basement.
Eric Spence lives a few doors down from the targeted home.
"It does shock me a lot, actually," Spence said. "I seen Anoka cops all over, people walking everywhere. It was just people everywhere - it was quite crazy."
The complaint states that inside the gun safe was a large amount of methamphetamine. It included two garbage bags that contained as many as eight containers of methamphetamine, amounting to more than 8,300 grams or more than 18 pounds worth. Authorities said the drugs had a street value of between $500,000 and $1,000,000.
Anoka County Attorney Tony Palumbo says what made this alleged crime even more serious is that three firearms were found in the safe.
"The complaint alleges that there were three weapons located in close proximity. Looking at that, obviously, when you are into that amount of drugs as well as that amount of weaponry nearby, it is a recipe for disaster."
If convicted on all the charges, Fletes-Ortiz faces up to 60 years in prison and $2,000,000 fine.
Palumbo has a message to anyone who pedals dangerous drugs in the community.
"Anybody who does deal in these types of drugs and puts that kind of poison in the community - we are going to work with our law enforcement friends and go after those people to get the maximum sentences that we can under the law," he said.
