Meth, fentanyl bust nets $21K in drugs

Two individuals are facing serious jail time after a drug bust in Carrington resulted in the seizure of notable amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

On Monday, July 17, the Stutsman County Narcotics Task Force, in concert with the Carrington Police Department, Foster County Sheriff's Office, N.D. Bureau of Criminal Investigation and James Valley Special Operations Team, executed a search warrant at 175 1st Avenue North in Carrington.

According to court documents, they were going after various items, including narcotics and drug paraphernalia – and that's exactly what law enforcement say they found.

"During the search of the residence, officers located methamphetamine, several 'M30' fentanyl pills, drug paraphernalia for repackaging illicit narcotics and drug paraphernalia to ingest illicit narcotics," allege court documents.

Also inside the residence were Lawrence Sansone and Kellie Barton, and both have been charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor drug offenses.

Barton was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver methamphetamine – a Class A felony; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver fentanyl – a Class B felony; and three counts of possession of a controlled substance – each a Class A misdemeanor.

Sansone, meanwhile, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver methamphetamine – a Class A felony; and possession of controlled substance with intent to manufacture/deliver fentanyl – a Class B felony.

He was also charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia (second offense) – a Class C felony; possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine (second offense) – a Class C felony; and two more counts of possession of a controlled substance – both Class A misdemeanors.

Court documents further detail precisely where the drugs were allegedly found inside the Carrington residence.

Approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine was allegedly found on Sansone's person, and a further 155 grams was allegedly found inside a mail package, which was stuffed into a vent inside the home and was addressed to Sansone.

"This amount of methamphetamine has a street value upwards of $19,000," say court documents.

In addition to methamphetamine, law enforcement also allegedly discovered 50 "round blue pills" in a small bag on a coffee table, which were identified as counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.

"This amount of fentanyl pills indicates sales/distribution rather than just personal use," say court documents.

In a Facebook post by the Foster County Sheriff's Office, they said the combined street value for the methamphetamine and 50 fentanyl pills is approximately $21,000.

Both Sansone and Barton had their bail set on Tuesday, July 19 at $5,000 cash or surety, and as of press time both were still being held at the Stutsman County Courthouse in Jamestown, N.D.

A preliminary hearing/arraignment for both has been scheduled for August 23 at 10 a.m. at the Foster County Courthouse.

Both Sansone and Barton are considered innocent unless proven guilty.