Rochester Man Avoids Prison Sentence for Fentanyl Pill Busts

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man, who was convicted in a pair of drug busts involving fentanyl pills has avoided prison. 

See Also: Dog Watcher Gets Prison Sentence for Rochester Home Theft

25-year-old Alex Michael Berg was charged with first-degree drug possession in both cases. Both drug busts happened in 2024.

The first occurred in January and the second happened in June of that year. 

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Rochester Man Sentenced for Pair of 1st-Degree Drug Convictions That Stemmed from Fentanyl Busts

Rochester police found a baggie containing 194 pills that tested positive for fentanyl while executing a search warrant on Berg during a traffic stop, according to the criminal complaint in the January drug case.

 Read More: Rochester Man Charged for Large Fentanyl Pill Bust 

Berg was charged in the second case after allegedly selling M30 fentanyl pills to a Rochester police informant in March of that year. 

Investigators spotted him riding on a motorized bicycle in June of that year and moved in to arrest him. 

 The criminal complaint alleges Berg responded to the approach of the investigators by reaching into his waistband, prompting the officers to restrain him. 

Read More: Rochester Area Men Face Charges for Separate Drug Busts

The court document says the investigators then stood him up and saw a baggie containing approximately 150 M30 pills that tested positive for fentanyl had fallen out of his pant leg. 

Stayed Prison Sentence Handed Down Monday

Berg entered a plea agreement to settle both cases in April of this year, admitting to the first-degree drug counts in each case. A fifth-degree drug possession charge against him was dismissed as part of the agreement. 

On Monday Berg was given a five-year stayed prison sentence for each conviction. He is being allowed to serve both sentences at the same time.

The sentencing order also calls for him to serve 180 days in the Olmsted County Jail. He’s been granted work release and treatment release for the jail sentence.