Throughout the late summer and fall of 2025, Clay County Narcotics Detectives had an open investigation into Justin Curtis Coste [DOB REDACTED](hereinafter "Defendant"). Throughout the investigation, law enforcement learned that Defendant lived in North Moorhead, Clay County, drove a red Ford pickup and sells molly and cocaine. Law enforcement also learned that Defendant travels to California to acquire large amounts of methamphetamine. On December 10, 2025, a Clay County narcotics detective spoke with a Confidential Informant ("CI"), who stated they could purchase controlled substances from Defendant.
The detective reviewed text messages between Defendant and the CI, which showed communication involving Defendant selling controlled substances. The messages included discussions about weights of narcotics and dollar amounts. A controlled purchase was arranged for December 15, 2025. Prior to the purchase, the CI's person was searched. The CI provided detectives with all of their money and no other money or contraband was found. The CI was provided with $250. The CI's vehicle was searched and no money or contraband was found.
Law enforcement followed the CI to the predetermined purchase location, which was the parking lot of the Walmart store in the City of Dilworth, County of Clay, State of Minnesota. Defendant arrived in the parking lot in his red pickup truck around 1708 hours, drove around the parking lot and stopped at the CI's vehicle around 1713 hours. The CI got out of their vehicle and into the passenger seat of Defendant's vehicle. Defendant had the narcotics weighed out and removed them from the center console area of the pickup.
The interaction ended and Defendant left the area. The CI met with law enforcement and provided them with the substance purchased from Defendant. The substance field tested positive for MDMA and weighed approximately 6 grams. MDMA is a Schedule I controlled substance. On February 27, 2026, narcotics detectives went to Defendant's home to speak with Defendant. Detectives made contact with Defendant and informed him of the purchase in December. Defendant stated he did not have time to speak with them but wanted to speak with them on March 3, 2026. Defendant later sent a detective a text message stating the controlled substance that was purchased from Defendant had belonged to someone else prior and that person sold it to Defendant.
Defendant later stated he wanted to speak to an attorney before speaking any more with law enforcement. As of the writing of this complaint, Defendant nor an attorney representing Defendant has made contact with law enforcement.
