Leniency for Rochester man after serious drug scandal

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) – One of two men charged in connection with a massive drug importation operation out of Rochester last year will have the opportunity to have a felony conviction related to the case expunged from his criminal record.

Court records show 27-year-old Jibril Abukar was accused of receiving a package allegedly sent from Arizona to his southeast Rochester residence. 47-year-old John Michael Askwho was the target of a drug trafficking investigation. The criminal complaint states that investigators found that Ask had sent four packages from Arizona to Minnesota, including an 8-pound package that was delivered to Abukar’s home.

READ MORE: Second man charged in massive Rochester drug importation case

Court documents say police then executed a search warrant on his home and seized 23 grams of crack cocaine and 20 grams of an unidentified white powder. Police also confiscated a digital scale with powdery residue, numerous torn corners of bags that investigators say indicate drug packaging, materials suggestive of adulterated cocaine and “many” suspected counterfeit $100 bills.

During the course of the investigation, Rochester police also intercepted another package that Ask allegedly sent from Arizona to Rochester. The indictment against Ask alleges it contained thousands of M30 fentanyl tablets weighing approximately 7 pounds.

Ask is charged with five serious drug offenses, including two counts of first-degree drug trafficking and one count of first-degree drug possession. His case is pending and another court hearing is scheduled for September.

Abukar was charged with first-degree drug trafficking and third-degree drug possession. His bail was set at $50,000. In June, Abukar entered into a plea agreement and admitted to the third-degree drug possession charge in exchange for the first-degree charge being dismissed.

He was sentenced earlier this week and given five years’ probation. Abukar was also granted a reprieve from probation, meaning the drug conviction will be expunged if he successfully completes his probation.