Cass County (trfnews.i234.me) – In late July, a Fargo courtroom hosted a detention hearing for one of more than a dozen federal drug cases with local ties this year.
Federal agents arrested 57-year-old Richard Fleisch in mid-July. Authorities charged him with possession with intent to distribute after finding nearly four pounds of cocaine, two firearms, and over $165,000 in his north Fargo apartment.
Surveillance had linked Fleisch to a cocaine handoff at a local restaurant. A judge ordered him held without bail on July 30, pending trial.
This case is part of a larger trend. Since January, 38 people have been charged in 12 other federal drug cases tied to the Fargo-Moorhead metro. All involve fentanyl, meth, cocaine, or a combination. Public health officials say overdoses in the area are up 82% this year.
Other major operations include a March raid at an Airbnb near North Dakota State University. That bust involved suspects from Texas and North Dakota, threats of violence, and large drug seizures.
In April, a search at a Fargo hotel linked to a Crookston business owner uncovered powdered fentanyl. Multiple people with long criminal histories now face federal charges.
Many cases began with local traffic stops. Others involve defendants from across the country bringing drugs into the region. Law enforcement agencies say the network spans multiple states, including Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado.
Prosecutors warn that the flow of illegal drugs into Cass County is unlikely to slow. Ongoing investigations may lead to more arrests as sealed indictments become public.
TRF News will continue to follow updates in these cases.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Richard Fleisch
