June 6 – POLK COUNTY, Minn. – A Grand Forks man waived his omnibus hearing on Thursday, June 6, in Polk County and pleaded not guilty to three drug charges.
Jacob Gabriel Brunelle, 28, faces up to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit first-degree sale of a controlled substance. His remaining two charges include felony sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and driving under the influence of a schedule I or II controlled substance in the fourth degree.
In April 2022, a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted surveillance at the Minnesota Heights Apartments in East Grand Forks as part of an investigation into fentanyl sales at the building, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case. Brunelle allegedly purchased fentanyl pills from someone in the apartment.
He was interviewed at the East Grand Forks Police Department, where he reportedly stated that he was a “gatekeeper,” someone who takes money from people and finds pills for them, sometimes making bulk purchases from suppliers to get a lower price to get.
Brunelle’s pre-trial hearing is scheduled for June 27 at 9 a.m.
