Thousands of Fentanyl Pills Seized in Rochester Drug Bust

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Charges recently filed in Olmsted County Court detail a recent drug bust in Rochester that resulted in the seizure of thousands of counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.

The court documents indicate Rochester police investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in the Homestead Village townhome complex in southeast Rochester last week. The charges indicate investigators were able to obtain the search warrant after conducting surveillance of the residence and documenting "consistent short-term traffic" indicative of narcotics sales. It's also alleged a confidential informant was able to purchase drugs from a man living in the residence.

He was identified as 29-year-old David Ansell Dorenzo. According to the criminal complaint, he was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant issued by Steele County when he arrived in Rochester on a shuttle bus from the Twin Cities. The charges state that he was in possession of a loaded handgun even though he was prohibited from possessing firearms.

A woman living in the home, identified in the criminal complaint as 25-year-old Samantha Jo Pittelko,was arrested at the residence when investigators executed the search warrant.

The criminal complaint says a search of the residence led to the seizure of more than 2300 M30 pills suspected of containing fentanyl, more than 12 grams of a white powder that later tested positive for fentanyl, along with a large amount of cash. The court document says investigators also found a loaded .45 caliber handgun under a couch cushion.

The charges say Pittelko gave a statement to investigators and admitted that she knew about the pills in the home. She also said that Dorenzo was selling them, but she denied participating in any of the alleged drug sales saying, "I do not sell or nothing other than obviously, this little thing that I got myself in with him."

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Court records also indicate Dorenzo gave a statement to police and acknowledged being in possession of the handgun at the time of his arrest. He denied that he lived at the Homestead Village residence, although the criminal complaint states that investigators saw him at the address consistently while the surveillance was being conducted and men's clothing was found throughout the home.

Dorenzo is charged with first-degree drug sales and possession, second-degree drug possession, and illegal possession of a firearm as a person convicted for a crime of violence. He currently remains jailed with his bail set at $200,000.

Pittelko has been charged with a single count of first-degree drug possession. She was released without bail following her first court appearance last Friday.

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