Continued: Burnsville man given 10 years for role in marijuana ring

It began as a routine traffic stop in Arizona.

But then authorities discovered the haul -- 14 bales of marijuana weighing 25 pounds apiece, slathered in mustard, wrapped in cellophane and locked in metal boxes in a spicy-yet-failed attempt to throw off drug-sniffing dogs.

The stop in April 2007 marked the beginning of the end for the reign of the Twin Cities' largest-known marijuana dealers.

Jamie Eugene Bannochie Dalton, 32, of Burnsville was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a major smuggling ring that shipped hundreds of pounds of marijuana from Arizona to Minnesota during the two years it operated. The final 350-pound haul that led to Dalton's arrest was valued at $700,000.

Dalton's sentence exceeded the seven years recommended by state guidelines, but the magnitude of Dalton's operation warranted more time, said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.

"This is a major drug operation in the Twin Cities and it had been going on for some time," Backstrom said. "Clearly it was a sophisticated, illegal operation, and that's the basis for departing from the minimum sentencing guidelines."

According to Backstrom, Minnesota authorities were clueless to the large-scale operation until they received a tip from Arizona cops, who had arrested Timothy James O'Brien of Rosemount after finding the marijuana in his car as he returned to Minnesota from Arizona, where he'd picked up his load. O'Brien, who told police he agreed to perform the runs for Dalton to make up for a drug debt his son owed Dalton, agreed to lead authorities to Dalton, who waited in Minnesota. While under surveillance, O'Brien unloaded the drugs in his garage. Dalton came over, paid O'Brien $2,000 for his trouble and was arrested.

Backstrom said a pre-sentence investigation revealed that Dalton described himself as the manager or "money man" for the distribution ring, which was involved in moving more than 700 pounds from Arizona to Minnesota from 2005-07.

Dalton, who had no serious criminal history, claimed to be working as a part-time installer of carpet and siding. Regardless of whether it was true, he made his income by selling drugs for several years.

"Certainly he had other associates, but we think he was the leader of this thing," Backstrom said. "He was selling to mid-level dealers, who would distribute throughout the Twin Cities."

O'Brien, who earned some leeway for cooperating with Minnesota authorities, was prosecuted in Arizona. Backstrom said he was uncertain of the outcome of the case against O'Brien.

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