Rochester Woman Charged In Major Drug Bust: What Happened?

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester woman is facing drug charges that stem from a search of her home conducted last year.

The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court on Friday, says officers executed a search warrant as part of an identity theft investigation on November 26.

No one was home at the time. Rochester police located drugs and evidence of drug sales inside of the residence, the court document says.

Cocaine and Fentanyl Found During Search of Rochester Home

32-year-old Antonia Maria Shaaron Johnson is charged with one count each of first-degree drug sales and first-degree drug possession.

Get our free mobile app

The charges say officers found eight stacks of cash that totaled $75,000 and were wrapped in rubber bands, suspected cocaine, suspected fentanyl and a so-called drug kit.

Detectives sent the suspected cocaine and fentanyl to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing.

BCA Tests Confirm Fentanyl & Cocaine

The results indicated both substances tested positive. The cocaine weighed 111.423 grams and the fentanyl weighed 116.576, according to the complaint.

Mannitol powder, a substance commonly used to increase the volume of cocaine, digital scales and plastic baggies were among the items discovered in the suspected drug kit, the complaint says.

Johnson is being charged by summons. She is due to make her first court appearance in October.

The $1,000 Backyard Mistake: 11 Things You Are Legally Banned From Burning in Minnesota

Think you can burn anything in your backyard? Think again. Under Minnesota Statute § 88.171, the state has a strict rules on burning.

If you get caught throwing the wrong thing into your fire pit, you could be charged with a misdemeanor and be penalized with up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Gallery Credit: Troy Dunken