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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[06] Police (2)Inv. Dan Miller, Central Minnesota Drug and Gang Task Force In August of 2006, I was assigned to the Central Minnesota Drug and Gang Task Force. The CMDGTF covers the counties of Stearns, Benton, Todd, and Morrison Counties. My position is that of a gang investigator and is jointly funded by the Cities of Sartell, Waite Park, Sauk Rapids, and St. Joseph. Part of our job is to identify new members of criminal gangs. We do this by conducting investigations of their members. When criteria points are met for members and or associates of gangs, they are documented in a state data base. Gang investigations include drug crimes, thefts, assaults, robberies, and other crimes of violence. We also give several presentations to different community organizations. During the past year, I have given presentations to schools, the Metro Citizens Police Academy, and other community organizations. Our office along with the Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), initiated a case involving the smuggling of cocaine into Minnesota from Mexico. We were joined on the case by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The case was named operation "Malverde ". 26 people from Minnesota to Texas were federally indicted in the case. Seizures of approximately $500,000 in cash and 41 Kilo's of cocaine were recovered. We also uncovered approximately $2.5 million dollars of wire transfers in reference to this case. This case took several months of surveillance and investigation. The case started in the summer of 2008 and still continues to keep us busy with court appearances and meetings. I still spend days tracking informants down to the cities for hearings or to meet with attorneys. As of January 2010, 23 of the 26 have pled guilty and we are expecting the last three to plead soon. This case was the best case scenario of good collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The case started in Stearns County and with outside agency assistance tracked to the Mexico border and one step from the powerful Mexican Cartels. January 2009 Conducted an investigation in the City of St. Cloud in reference to the sales of prescription pills. An adult male was arrested in connection with this case. Conducted controlled purchases in reference to methamphetamine in the City of Sauk Rapids. An adult female was arrested in connection with the case. Conducted controlled purchases of marijuana from juveniles in the City of Sartell. Charges were filed against three juveniles. February 2009 Completed and executed a search warrant in the City of St. Cloud. During execution of the warrant two people were arrested on controlled substance charges. Investigators located psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana. March 2009 Arrested a male and female for possession of methamphetamine in the City of Waite Park. Charges were filed against both parties. April 2009 Conducted controlled purchases in reference to prescription pill sales in the Cities of Albany and St. Cloud. Charges are pending against an adult female and male in reference to the case. May 2009 Conducted controlled purchases and search warrants in the City of Kimball in reference to the sales of methamphetamine. A female party was arrested for 2nd Degree Sales of Methamphetamine and 1St Degree Possession of methamphetamine. Also recovered during the search warrant were 13 firearms. This female was responsible for selling a large amount of methamphetamine in the Waite Park, St. Cloud area. June 2009 Conducted controlled purchases of crack cocaine, marijuana and prescription pills from a confirmed gang member in Benton County. Charges are pending. July 2009 Conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine from a male in the City of Sauk Rapids. Charges are pending. August 2009 Conducted several controlled purchases in the City of Sauk Centre in reference to the sales of methamphetamine. Charges are peding against 3 adult males. Executed a search warrant in the City of St Cloud in reference to a marijuana cultivation. During the arrest of the female tenant, officers were assaulted and the female was taken into custody. Arrested a confirmed gang member for felon in possession of a firearm. The male had 6 violent felony convictions on his criminal history. The male was indicted in federal court and currently is in federal custody. September 2009 Conducted controlled purchases of large amounts of methamphetamine in Monticello with assistance of the Wright County Task Force. Conducted controlled purchases of crack cocaine from a documented gang member in the City of Waite Park. Charges are pending against an adult male. October 2009 Assisted the Sartell Police Department in reference to a male arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The case was presented to the United States Federal Attorney's office for prosecution in the federal court system. Conducted a search warrant in the City of Waite Park. During the warrant 23 pounds of marijuana and $10,000 in U.S. Currency was recovered. We also located 2 handguns inside the residence. November 2009 Conducted controlled purchases in the City of St Cloud in reference to the sales of methamphetamine. Charges are pending. December 2009 Conducted an investigation into the distribution of high grade marijuana into the Central Minnesota Area. During the investigation a search warrant was executed in the City of Sartell. During the warrant of the warrant 146 pounds of marijuana was recovered. The estimated street value of approximately $600,000. Follow up search warrants were conducted in the City of Waite Park which led to the seizure of $23,000.