Ricardo Delgado, II, the leader of a large-scale drug conspiracy operating in the Saginaw-Bay area, was convicted by a federal jury of multiple drug and weapons offenses, including drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, possession of multiple machineguns and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Delgado, 51, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machinegun, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of an unregistered silencer, and use of communication facility to commit a drug offense.

Court documents revealed Delgado was involved in a wide-ranging drug conspiracy that involved the importation of numerous kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl from Mexico for distribution in the Saginaw-Bay area.

FBI agents learned from a court-authorized wiretap that Delgado was seeking retaliation for the theft of his drugs from a subordinate and that he ordered that subordinate to exact revenge.

However, the plan was thwarted by authorities. In addition, following Delgado’s arrest, law enforcement officers seized 13 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of fentanyl, 12 firearms, including two machine guns and two silencers, and over $200,000 in cash from the 51-year-old’s residence.

When he is sentenced, Delgado faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 55 years and a maximum of life in prison.

MINNEAPOLIS — Last month, Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell was shot and killed by a felon who shouldn’t have had a gun. 

Before that, in February, a similar scene played out in Burnsville, killing three first responders. In that case, the shooter, Shannon Gooden had asked the courts to restore his gun rights. He was denied. 

But what about the hundreds of other felons who asked for the same thing?

Over five years, 1,448 petitions to restore gun and ammo rights have been filed in Minnesota. They were originally stripped for convictions like drug offenses, assault, theft and terroristic threats. The courts approved more than half of them — mainly for people who had stayed out of trouble and requested to hunt or have personal protection. People like Troy Horning.

“It’s people that have been law-abiding. You know, grown up enough and understand enough the responsibility of carrying a live firearm,” Horning said.

WCCO went through case after case from 2019 through 2023. Of the rights restored, two people had a gun offense after — both misdemeanors.

In one case, the person had a rifle in a shotgun zone with an invalid permit. The other was for carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol. A third person was convicted of felony drug possession. 

Senior Judge Jerome Abrams has been on the bench, deciding if there’s good cause to restore felons’ gun rights.

“I think what you found is very consistent with just the nature of the crimes and offense in the community. The people that are getting their firearms back are not likely the people who are committing new serious crimes in the community,” Abrams said. 

It’s a similar story for felons who had their petition denied. A man who had his rights denied was later convicted of a violation after police found guns in his bedroom. A handful of people withdrew their petition or asked for a dismissal after being charged with crimes, some involving a firearm. 

We found convictions for things like assault, disorderly conduct, DWI and speeding for people who had rights restored and denied.

“Well, I think the data suggests that it is [working]. I think the data supports the fact that so far, the judicial evaluation or role in that process has been fairly good. I mean, it’s consistent. In other words, we’re not giving guns back to people who are out to commit offenses with firearms. It happens to be that some of the people who get their gun rights back commit other crimes, but they’re not using the firearms as part of it,” Abrams said.

What does the data show about felons in Minnesota, who are caught with a gun after being prohibited from having one? 

Tuesday at 10 p.m. WCCO shares the push to hold felons in possession accountable and talks with a mother who knows deep grief after her daughter’s life was taken by a felon with a gun.

Missouri’s House Speaker has named a former Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) director as the chair of a new House committee that will investigate crimes by alleged illegal immigrants.

House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres) has called a press conference for 11 o’clock this (Tuesday) morning in Jefferson City, where he’ll announce the formation of a new House Special Committee on Illegal Immigrant Crimes. Speaker Plocher and committee chairman Lane Roberts, who is also a former Joplin police chief, will brief the Capitol Press Corps. Speaker Plocher says the committee will work closely with law enforcement agencies to assess criminal activities involving alleged illegal immigrants in Missouri, as well as propose solutions.

939 the Eagle’s Mike Murphy reports that in late June, five men believed to be illegal immigrants were captured in northern Missouri’s Macon County with a 14-year-old runaway from Indiana. Police say they were allegedly trafficking her to California. Murphy reports the five suspects are from Mexico and Honduras and are charged and jailed.

Meantime, the southern border is one of the main campaign issues for a former GOP state senator from Lake St. Louis who is running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) on Capitol Hill. Former State Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) is one of seven Republicans running in the August primary. Onder tells 939 the Eagle that he’s worried about fentanyl and other issues:

“Because not only is that a security issue with the crime brought on by illegal aliens, but it’s also an economic issue, the economic burden of 10 million illegal aliens in our country. The burden in terms of 100,000 fentanyl poisonings since (President) Joe Biden took office. Human trafficking at an all-time high,” Senator Onder told 939 the Eagle last week at a presidential debate watch party at Lakeside Ashland.

Onder faces former State Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), State Rep. Justin Hicks (R-Lake St. Louis) and four others in the August GOP primary. The winner will face one of two Democrats who are running: Bethany Mann of Wentzville and Andrew Daly of Fulton. Congressman Luetkemeyer is retiring after serving eight terms on Capitol Hill.