October 2, 2020 – The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force (CMVOTF) announced that four pounds of methamphetamine and more than $15,000 in cash was recovered following a search warrant in Minneapolis on September 30th.
The seizure was part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected methamphetamine trafficking organization operating throughout central Minnesota and the Twin Cities.
According to CMVOTF Commander Jay Salzer, the task force received information nearly six months ago that Gerald Frank Ciesco, 49, from Minneapolis, was allegedly distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in and around central Minnesota. As the investigation continued, investigators developed information that Ciesco was believed to employ numerous “wholesale” distributers who were able to move methamphetamine quickly and efficiently. Salzer says the CMVOTF partnered with the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and other task forces across Minnesota to learn more about Ciesco’s organization and better understand how Ciesco was acquiring the methamphetamine.
Investigators working closely with the Stearns County Attorney’s Office believed that there was enough evidence to charge Ciesco and others with 1st degree conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
On September 30, investigators from the CMVOTF, FBI, the FBI SWAT team, Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, and the Minneapolis Police Department executed a search warrant at Ciesco’s home in Minneapolis. Ciesco’s home contained more methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and other evidence related to the distribution of controlled substance.
Subsequently, investigators served three additional search warrants in central Minnesota relating to this investigation and recovered additional controlled substances, money and evidence relating to the distribution of controlled substances.
Following the execution of the search warrants, six subjects were arrested, allegedly connected to this drug trafficking organization. All were arrested for first degree conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and are currently in the Stearns County Jail. Those arrested are:
– Gerald Frank Ciesco, 49, from Minneapolis Minnesota
– James Warren Garner, 43, from Rice Minnesota
– Robert Allen Keltner, 65, from Coon Rapids Minnesota
– Stacie Michelle Condos, 38, from St. Cloud Minnesota
– Jeremy Ralph Robasse, 45, from St. Cloud Minnesota
-Tyler Wayne Erb, 34, from St. Cloud Minnesota
The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force was assisted by the Stearns County Attorney’s Office, the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office including the FBI SWAT Team, the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, the Minneapolis Police Department, the St. Cloud Police Department and the Stearns and Benton County Sheriff’s Offices.
This is an ongoing investigation and the CMVOTF continues to actively look for additional potential suspects in the methamphetamine trafficking operation.
The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of investigators from the St. Cloud and Sartell Police Departments along with Deputies from Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Todd and Morrison Counties.