Man charged for reportedly possessing 115 pounds of marijuana near Geneva
Published 9:26 am Tuesday, November 28, 2017
An Oregon man who allegedly possessed 115 pounds of marijuana Thursday on Interstate 35 was charged with a felony Monday in Freeborn County District Court.
Chou Chang, 56, is charged with first-degree marijuana possession.
Court documents state Chang was charged after a Minnesota State Patrol trooper was on patrol at about 11:15 p.m. Thursday when he conducted a traffic stop near the Geneva exit.
The trooper reportedly noticed there was an excessive amount of luggage for one person, and Chang appeared nervous. A rear-seat area was covered by a tarp and a blanket.
Court documents state the trooper suspected Chang was moving marijuana.
A search of the vehicle reportedly revealed 115 plastic, heat-sealed bags, each containing about 1-pound of marijuana. The total weight of the marijuana was about 115 pounds.
District Court Judge Steven Schwab set conditional bail at $50,000. Chang’s next appearance is scheduled for Dec. 7. He was in custody as of Monday afternoon.
First-degree marijuana possession carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.