Alexander Brent Finney, 29, Minneapolis, was charged in Morrison County District Court with one felony count of second-degree sale of a controlled substance and one felony count of possessing ammunition and a firearm as a convict of a crime of violence.
The charges stem from a Feb. 21, 2023 incident, when a trooper of the Minnesota State Patrol received a report from the West Central Drug and Violent Crime Task Force that suspects were bringing a quantity of fentanyl north on Highway 10 through Morrison County. Task force agents advised the trooper that the suspect vehicle pulled into the Soo Line Trail parking lot west of Royalton, according to the report.
The trooper drove to the parking lot and observed a pickup truck at the far corner of the parking lot with its lights blacked out. Per the report, the trooper could see two male suspects inside, and the driver was making furtive movements to the bottom left side of his seat. The driver was later identified as Finney.
According to the report, the trooper approached the vehicle and greeted Finney and his passenger. The trooper could observe in plain view items of drug paraphernalia throughout the vehicle, including burned foil, a blue fentanyl pill and a marijuana pipe. Finney and his passenger showed signs of possible impairment. The trooper had Finney and his passenger step out of their vehicle. Finney was placed in the rear of the trooper’s squad car. Finney allegedly admitted there was a firearm in his vehicle. At first, he claimed the firearm belonged to the passenger, but later allegedly changed his story and admitted the firearm belonged to him.
The trooper then searched the vehicle and collected items of drug paraphernalia. The trooper then approached Finney once again as he remained seated in the back of his squad car. The trooper opened his squad car door and could see blue M30 fentanyl pills all over the floor and seat of his squad car. Per the report, Finney admitted he had a package of drugs taped to his left ankle inside his pants and that the drugs spilled all over while seated in the squad car. Finney stated that there were approximately 500 pills and he was transporting them to sell. He also allegedly admitted he carried the pistol for protection. The pistol was located in Finney’s vehicle and was identified as a Glock 9mm pistol.
The fentanyl pills that were spilled in the trooper’s squad car were later collected and counted. There were approximately 313 dosage units of fentanyl pills weighing approximately 40 grams with packaging, according to the report.
Finney was previously convicted of second-degree possession of a controlled substance in October 2020. As a result of the prior conviction, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
If convicted on the felony controlled substance crime, Finney faces up to 25 years imprisonment and/or a $500,000 fine. If convicted on the felony ammunition/firearm possession charge, Finney faces up to 15 years imprisonment and/or a $30,000 fine.
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