Warrant issued for business owner accused of running illegal dispensary in south Fargo

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A warrant was issued Monday for 29-year-old Robert Lee Beretta of Fargo for allegedly operating an illegal dispensary. The two charges are both felony counts– leading a criminal association and conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture/deliver marijuana. This investigation has been going on for nearly 10 months.

On June 27, 2023, court documents state a search warrant was served at 5171 51st Ave S #103 in Fargo, in the area of Audio Garage and Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. The documents state 31-year-old Dylan Beckman and 24-year-old Evan Lanigan were inside the shop, where a search revealed more than 9 pounds of marijuana, 23 bottles of THC syrup, 87 containers THC wax, 63 pre-rolled marijuana blunts, 36 packs of THC gummies, 565 grams of THC wax and 57 THC vape cartridges.

The documents state Lanigan told officers he was being paid $11/hr to sell marijuana out of the shop from noon-midnight, stating people text them and come to buy weed. He said the cash was picked up daily or sent to a Venmo account. In the documents, Beckman stated he was also paid hourly for answering the phone and answering questions about the “product”.

The court documents state, based on the evidence collected during the search warrant and interviews, it was determined the tenants of 5171 51st Ave S were operating a marijuana dispensary without legal authority to do so.

Beckman reportedly told the investigators that “Lee Beretta” owns a tax service business called Northern Star Taxes at 4357 13th Ave S, Suite 200 in Fargo, in which Beretta launders money. That office is near Olive Garden, in the same building as A Beautiful You and Permanent Makeup by Carrie Ann. In the documents, Beckman reportedly tells investigators that when the shop on 51st Ave was done selling marijuana for the day, he would take the cash over to Northern Star Taxes and put money into a safe.

A search of 4357 13th Ave S on July 13, 2023, revealed 280 grams of THC wax and one THC vape cart, according to court documents. The evidence was held at the Fargo BCI office, then sent to the North Dakota State Lab for testing.

Beckman and Lanigan were taken to jail, arrested for possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Lanigan took a plea deal– according to court records– and was given a deferred sentenced in January 2024, unsupervised probation for slightly less than one year and 32 hours of community service. The charge against Beckman was dismissed in October 2023.

According to court records, the current warrant out for 29-year-old Robert Lee Beretta is his first criminal offense in North Dakota.

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