A resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota, has been sentenced to 107 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Polk County, Minnesota. On January 13, 2025, Benjamin John Steinberger, aged 50, received the sentence after pleading guilty to felony charges related to the sale of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge for driving while impaired by a controlled substance.
The case began on July 23, 2024, when Steinberger was apprehended by law enforcement for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Crookston, Minnesota. A probable cause statement indicated that he was arrested for driving while impaired. During the stop, officers discovered $1,474 in cash within his wallet.
Law enforcement’s investigation revealed further evidence of drug possession. Officers found multiple empty Ziploc bags, four bags containing a crystalline substance, and a small Tupperware container with a white powdery substance in Steinberger’s motorcycle, alongside drug paraphernalia. Field tests confirmed that one of the Ziploc bags contained methamphetamine, while the Tupperware held cocaine. The total weight of the suspected methamphetamine, including packaging, was approximately 40 grams, and the suspected cocaine weighed around 6.4 grams.
The quantity of methamphetamine and the presence of additional packaging, combined with the significant amount of cash, led law enforcement to believe that Steinberger was engaged in the distribution of the drug. As part of a plea agreement, a second-degree possession charge was dismissed.
Steinberger has been ordered to serve his sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. He has received credit for eight days already served. This case highlights ongoing issues related to drug trafficking in the region and the legal consequences of such offenses.