A Saint Paul man handed over several ounces of methamphetamine and admitted to possessing a loaded handgun after police stopped him for speeding, according to charges.
Jeffrey Richard Schwab, 43, faces four charges: first-degree drug possession, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm or ammunition as a person with a violent crime history and driving while under the influence of a controlled substance. The charges were filed August 14, 2026, in Ramsey County District Court.
According to the complaint, officers spotted a Ford Fusion speeding in a 20 mph zone in Saint Paul at about 1 a.m. on August 14. After officers turned around to follow, the vehicle slowed but remained over the speed limit. Officers initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Schwab, who appeared visibly nervous, was sweating, fidgety and showed other signs of stimulant use.
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Schwab told officers he did not have a driver’s license and admitted to using methamphetamine several hours earlier. Officers observed fresh plastic baggies in the back seat and suspected Schwab was under the influence. When asked about drugs in the vehicle, Schwab said he had “a couple ounces” in his pocket and placed several ounces of suspected methamphetamine on the squad car hood. He then told officers there was more meth in a black bag inside the vehicle.
Schwab initially denied having a gun but then admitted there was a firearm in the same black bag as the meth. Officers found a black zippered bag between the front seats containing several bags of methamphetamine, a Hi-point C9 9mm handgun, 9mm ammunition and a scale. Additional evidence recovered from the vehicle included boxes of baggies, another scale, a vacuum sealer and two cellphones.
During a search incident to arrest, police found two small bags of methamphetamine in Schwab’s pocket, which he described as his “personal supply,” along with $2,045 in cash. The total methamphetamine seized included baggies weighing 5.32 grams, 39.41 grams, 56.28 grams, 130.04 grams and 1.55 grams, all of which field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
In a post-Miranda statement, Schwab told officers he is fronted between a half pound and five pounds of meth per day, which he sells to customers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. He said he communicates with his dealer and customers using two Motorola phones and typically sells a few ounces at a time to lower-level dealers. Schwab said he received the firearm as collateral from a customer who bought two ounces of meth.
Schwab admitted to using meth daily and said he was unaware of the speed limit at the time of the stop. He also acknowledged his driver’s license was cancelled for public safety reasons. Officers did not conduct field sobriety tests due to Schwab’s admissions and the evidence found.
The complaint notes Schwab has a criminal history that includes several convictions for crimes of violence, making him ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition. He also has an open felony case for fleeing police in a motor vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, September 15.
Schwab is scheduled to appear in Ramsey County court on September 15, 2026.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s weapons offenses include § 624.713 (felon in possession of a firearm, five-year mandatory minimum for a prior crime of violence), § 609.66 (dangerous weapons, including drive-by shooting at § 609.66 subd. 1e) and § 609.165 (firearm restoration after a felony). Discharge of a firearm within a municipality is charged under § 609.66 subd. 1a.
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Jurisdictional Context
Ramsey County encompasses Saint Paul and is served by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Felony cases are heard in the Second Judicial District at the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown Saint Paul; the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office operates the Ramsey County Correctional Facility in Maplewood.
