A man from Grand Forks, North Dakota, has been sentenced to 107 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Polk County, Minnesota. Benjamin John Steinberger, aged 50, received this sentence on January 13, 2025, after pleading guilty to felony first-degree sale of a controlled substance. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired by a controlled substance. Another charge, felony second-degree possession of a controlled substance, was dismissed under a plea agreement.
The case against Steinberger began on July 23, 2024, when he was stopped by law enforcement for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Crookston, Minnesota. During the traffic stop, officers detected signs of impairment and subsequently arrested him. A search revealed $1,474 in cash located within his wallet.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered multiple empty Ziploc bags, four bags containing a crystalline substance, a small Tupperware container with a white powdery substance, and various drug paraphernalia in Steinberger’s motorcycle. Field tests confirmed the presence of methamphetamine in one of the Ziploc bags and cocaine in the Tupperware container. The total suspect methamphetamine weighed approximately 40 grams, while the cocaine weighed around 6.4 grams.
Law enforcement officials noted that the significant volume of methamphetamine, coupled with the presence of empty packaging and a substantial amount of cash, led them to believe that Steinberger was involved in the distribution of the drug.
As part of his sentence, Steinberger will serve his time at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. He has been credited with eight days already served. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding drug trafficking and public safety in the region.
