St. Cloud Mother Guilty of Selling Son Fatal Fentanyl-Tainted Drugs Gets 41 Months

(KNSI) – A mother who pleaded guilty to selling her teenage son a lethal dose of fentanyl-tainted cocaine was sentenced to just under three and a half years in prison on Friday.

Crystal Marie Swenson lives in St. Cloud while her ex-boyfriend and son are from Sauk Rapids. On March 2nd, 2024, authorities say Anthony Costello transferred money to the teen, Peyton, so that he could swing by Swenson’s place and pick up some cocaine that they were going to do together. Sauk Rapids Police investigators were able to trace the transaction through the Cash App.

Both had a bad reaction to the drug. At about 9:30 that morning, Costello woke up and found Peyton lying unresponsive on the floor. He was making gurgling noises, so Costello tried to pour water on him and stand him up. Peyton never came out of the daze, and Costello dragged him to the bottom of the stairs, covering him up and returning to bed.

Paramedics were not called until that evening. When they arrived to the Sauk Rapids house, Peyton had been dead for several hours. Costello has pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison.

The agreement with Swenson was reached on April 14th, but she did not appear for her sentencing hearing on May 29th. An arrest warrant was issued, and Swenson, along with her current boyfriend, Fox Bellanger, were rearrested. The AG’s office did not add any charges related to the failure to appear. Swenson will serve 41 months with credit for eight already completed.

Bellanger has also been charged. His case has not reached trial yet.

___