Defendant in Rochester 7lb Fentanyl Bust to Face New Drug Charges

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man charged this past July in a massive fentanyl bust is set to face new drug charges.

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Police Captain Casey Moilanen says officers served an apprehension order for 46-year-old John Micheal Ask of Rochester around 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Ask was taken into custody after officers conducting surveillance on him stopped a vehicle he was seen getting into.

Officers reported finding Ask with 48 grams of crack cocaine when he was arrested. Moilanen said investigators then executed multiple search warrants that were applied to his residence and a vehicle at the residence.

Ask. Olmsted County ADC

Police reported seizing the following suspected drugs from Ask’s home:

48 grams of cocaine
14 grams of crack cocaine
20 grams of methamphetamine
11 grams of ecstasy

Moilanen said a search of a vehicle at Ask’s residence turned up the following:

88 grams of a brown rocky substance that tested positive for fentanyl, meth and cocaine
17 grams of meth
89 grams of cocaine

Ask is already facing charges of first-degree drug sales and first-degree drug possession after Rochester Police seized 7 pounds of suspected fentanyl from his residence in July as part of an ongoing nationwide drug trafficking investigation, according to the criminal complaint in that case. Court records indicate he posted a non-cash bond on August 21.

Kim David/TSM

Moilanen and Olmsted County Sheriff’s Captain Tim Parkin said Ask allegedly being able to get his hands on the large amount of drugs seized this week shortly after getting out of jail indicate he could have a high-up role in a drug trafficking operation.

File photo. Actual drugs not pictured. Getty Images

Ask is one of two local men charged in connection to the July fentanyl bust. He is set to be arraigned on the new drug charges in Olmsted County Court Friday morning.

Moilanen said the driver of the vehicle that Ask was riding in at the time of his arrest could also face charges.

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