St. Cloud Man Charged After Controlled Meth Buy Bust
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A man is charged after investigators say he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Stearns County.
He was later stopped by police while transporting a large amount of the drug back to St. Cloud.
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The investigation spanned from January through early March and included controlled drug purchases, surveillance and a traffic stop along Interstate 94 near Clearwater in Wright County.
Investigators with the Central Minnesota Offender Task Force first targeted Benjamin Evans Peschl, 32, of St. Cloud, on Jan. 15 after working with a confidential informant who said they had previously purchased methamphetamine from him. The informant showed investigators text messages arranging a purchase for about $300.
After being searched and equipped with an audio recording device, the informant drove to Peschl’s residence in St. Cloud to buy drugs.
Shortly after arriving, an adult woman associated with the residence approached the vehicle and got inside. Investigators monitoring the recording device heard money being counted and a drug deal taking place before the woman exited the vehicle. Authorities then heard Peschl call the informant and ask how the transaction went.
The informant later turned over a bag containing a crystalline substance weighing 36.98 grams that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Investigators say the case continued developing through February when another informant reported that Peschl was distributing methamphetamine and driving a dark blue Chevrolet Silverado.
On March 5, authorities learned Peschl had allegedly traveled to the Eden Prairie area to obtain more methamphetamine and was believed to be returning toward St. Cloud along Interstate 94.
Investigators located the pickup parked in Clearwater. Authorities watched as Peschl exited the driver’s side and entered a nearby gas station. When he returned to the truck, a woman who had been riding with him moved into the driver’s seat while Peschl took the passenger seat.
Law enforcement then performed a traffic stop on the driver of the truck.
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During the stop, the woman told investigators there was methamphetamine in the vehicle and said Peschl had told her about it earlier. She also said the pair had been staying at a hotel near Mystic Lake Casino and that she had seen a bag of methamphetamine in their hotel room. She believed the drugs had been packed into a gray duffel bag belonging to Peschl.
According to the complaint, Peschl also made statements to investigators after being advised of his rights. He acknowledged that controlled substances were in the vehicle and told officers they would also find a small amount of methamphetamine inside his residence.
A search of the pickup led investigators to a gray duffel bag bearing a tag with Peschl’s name and address. Inside was a red toiletry bag containing several plastic bags filled with a white crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine.
Authorities reported finding multiple bags containing large shards and powdery methamphetamine with a combined weight of 114.50 grams. Investigators also located unused hypodermic needles and packaging materials commonly associated with drug sales.
Later the same day, investigators executed a search warrant at Peschl’s residence in St. Cloud.
Inside a bedroom safe, officers located additional methamphetamine along with suspected Ecstasy pills and psilocybin mushrooms. Investigators also recovered a digital scale and additional plastic baggies. Authorities say those items are commonly used to package and distribute controlled substances.
In total, investigators say the case involved more than 150 grams of methamphetamine connected to the investigation.
Peschl is charged with first-degree sale of a controlled substance. He made an initial court appearance Friday where a judge set bail at $750,000 with no conditions or $100,000 with conditions including remain law-abiding, no alcohol or controlled substance use and random testing. If convicted, Peschl faces up to 40 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
He was later stopped by police while transporting a large amount of the drug back to St. Cloud.