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Winnebago Mayor Scott Robertson and his son, Jacob Robertson, illegally grew hundreds of marijuana plants, authorities said. (Screenshot: KEYC)
A Minnesota mayor and his son are accused of growing about 240 marijuana plants, well in excess of the state’s eight-plant limit for personal cultivation.
Winnebago mayor Scott Robertson, 67, and Jacob Robertson, 46, are formally charged with two counts of first-degree cannabis crime–unlawfully cultivates more than 23 cannabis plants; one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree cannabis crime–unlawfully cultivates more than 23 plants; and one count of aiding and abetting first-degree cannabis crime–unlawfully cultivates more than 23 cannabis plants, according to Austin, Minnesota, ABC affiliate KAAL.
Both men were reportedly arrested Thursday and booked into the Faribault County Jail. Online records currently do not show their names.
The South Central Drug Investigation Unit reportedly said father and son grew 240 plants of what authorities think is marijuana at three addresses in Winnebago.
Investigators said they received an anonymous tip of someone in the 18000 block of 340th Avenue using greenhouses to grow a large amount of cannabis. The Robertsons owned the property, previously using it to grow hemp, and yet they had not registered a hemp crop since 2021.
Authorities noted that hemp has to have a THC concentration less than 0.03% for legal growth.
The Robertsons allegedly moved plants out of the address before the Minnesota Department of Agriculture performed a February 2023 inspection.
In January of this year, however, law enforcement got another anonymous tip that father and son were growing cannabis at the property. Authorities claimed to smell “unburnt” marijuana from the street.
When authorities found 55 plants in a Main Street address, these were labeled with names of cannabis seed products, like “Frost Kong,” “Lady Kush,” and “LEP Gold.”
Investigators also claimed to find a box of seeds from a cannabis seed supplier addressed to “S. Robertson.”
A notebook allegedly had financial transaction information showing partner product splits with total profit of $360,000.
Minnesota now allows the home usage and growth of marijuana, but places a variety of limits. For example, people can only have up to eight cannabis plants at a single residence, and only up to four can be “mature, flowering.”
Law&Crime sent an email and left a phone message with Mayor Robertson’s office.
