Major Drug Trafficking Ring With Ties to Central Minnesota Dismantled

(KNSI) — Nineteen people, including several from the St. Cloud area, have been convicted and sentenced for their role in a major drug trafficking enterprise.

Operation Unfinished Business II was a four year long investigation involving federal, state, and local law enforcement, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota.

The cases were tied to some of North America’s most violent drug cartels.

Ringleader Macalla “Kayla” Knott of St. Cloud moved to Mexico in March 2020 and directed shipments of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to distributors across the Upper Midwest while arranging payments to suppliers in Mexico. Knott admitted to leading at least five people in the $10 million enterprise. She was sentenced to 26 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, money laundering conspiracy, and continuing criminal enterprise charges. Her father, Jeffrey Knott, was sentenced to 7.5 years for international money laundering.

Tiffany Keomany, 35, of St. Cloud, was sentenced to 10.6 years for drug smuggling on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel, formerly led by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. She pleaded guilty in July 2024 to conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs and international money laundering.

Deanna Marie Gerads of Freeport, also accused of working for the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in Mexico and deported to the U.S. She pleaded guilty in March 2024 and was sentenced to ten years. Melanie Quick of St. Cloud received nine years.

The 19 defendants were tied to seizures of over 100 pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of fentanyl powder, and 120,000 fentanyl pills. Prosecutors said the group used violence and apps to hide financial transactions.

Others sentenced include:

Oliver Dylla of Avon – 2.5 years

Robert Gjevre of Champlin – 9 years

Demian Hebert of Bloomington – 14 years

Brady Ludusher – 7.8 years

Joe Myers of Elk River – 11 years

David Nowlan of Waite Park – 26.7 years

Tyler Pelzer of St. Cloud – 4 years

Rob Ratka of Melrose – 7 years

Lee Roy Saldana – 13.5 years

Kayla Schutz of St. Augusta – 3.3 years

Danielle Skluzacek of Sartell – 4.75 years