Guilty Plea For Rochester Drug Bust Involving a Pound of Meth

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A man with a lengthy criminal history is expected to face a significant prison sentence after pleading guilty in a Rochester drug case.

Guilty Plea Reached in Rochester Drug Investigation

Fifty-five-year-old Tracy Allen Benson recently entered into a plea agreement and admitted to a second-degree drug sale charge. He originally faced an aggravated first-degree drug charge involving a firearm, one count each of first-degree drug sales and first-degree drug possession, along with a charge of illegal possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence. Those charges were dropped through the plea deal.

Photo by Andy Brownell TSM Rochester

It Started With a Traffic Stop For a Busted Brake Light

According to Olmsted County court documents, the Winona man was arrested following a traffic stop by an Olmsted County Sheriff's deputy in April of last year after he was spotted driving a vehicle with a malfunctioning brake light in Rochester. During the traffic stop, a K-9 officer alerted to the presence of narcotics.

K-9 Officer Alerted Deputies to Narcotics

The criminal complaint against Benson says that led to a search of the vehicle and the discovery of a bag containing Ziploc baggies filled with methamphetamine. The court document states that the drugs and packaging weighed more than a pound.

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The charges say the search also led to the discovery of 1.6 grams of cocaine and a five-shot .22-caliber revolver with a label on the side that read "Switch Gun." Twenty-one green tabs were also found in another baggie, but the results of testing on the substance came back inconclusive.

Defendant Has Criminal History Dating to 1998

According to Benson's plea agreement document, based on his criminal history, he and the prosecution have agreed to a 92-month prison sentence for the conviction. Court records show that Benson has previous convictions for drug sales, felony assault, and felony theft dating back to 1998.

Benson remains free on $200,000 bail until his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled to take place in October.

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Gallery Credit: Jessica On The Radio