News and Press Releases
Four Minnesota men sentenced for running large marijuana grow operation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS – Earlier today in federal court in Duluth, a 43-year-old Duluth man was
sentenced for his role in a marijuana grow operation that consisted of more than 925 plants.
United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced David Donald Foote to 60 months
in prison on one count of conspiracy to manufacture 100 or more marijuana plants. He was
indicted, along with three co-defendants, on July 6, 2011, and pleaded guilty on October 24,
2011.
On March 6, 2012, Judge Kyle sentenced Russell Gordon Fromberg, age 51, of Proctor, to
32 months in prison; Steven John Hansen, age 51, of Duluth, to six months; and Craig Alan
Modean, age 36, of Barnum, to three months. Each of the men were sentenced on one count of
conspiracy. Fromberg and Hansen also pleaded guilty on October 24, 2011, while Modean
pleaded guilty on October 14, 2011.
In their plea agreements, Foote, Hansen, and Fromberg admitted that from January of 2008
through April 1, 2010, they conspired with others to manufacture marijuana. In March 2010, law
enforcement executed search warrants at various residences and found hundreds of marijuana
plants. Hansen possessed 96 plants in his home. He also admitted assisting at a second Duluth
residence, where additional plants were recovered. Furthermore, he admitted selling marijuana
and being responsible for manufacturing a total of 554 plants during the course of the
conspiracy.
Officers seized 458 plants from Foote, and he admitted responsibility for manufacturing 925
plants during the conspiracy. He also admitted setting up grow operations at a number of
locations.
Officers seized 46 plants at Fromberg’s residence, and he admitted responsibility for assisting in the manufacturing of 600 plants. In addition, Fromberg admitted possessing seven
firearms, including five rifles and two pistols.
Finally, at Modean’s residence, officers seized 325 plants.
This case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted
by Assistant U.S. Attorney LeeAnn K. Bell.
