Minnesota man given split sentence for possession with intent to deliver

A Minnesota man has been given a split sentence on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver after a large amount of marijuana was found in his vehicle during a traffic stop last summer.

On June 22, 2020, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper recorded a vehicle traveling at 78 mph in the 75 mph zone in I-90. The trooper performed a traffic stop near milepost 176 and made contact with the three occupants of the vehicle, which included passenger Samuel Galamue.

The trooper allegedly smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and observed an orange grinder commonly used to grind marijuana in plain view, as well as what appeared to be a marijuana dispensary container. The occupants allegedly admitted to having marijuana in the vehicle and Galamue handed him a small baggie of marijuana.

All occupants were asked to exit the vehicle and the trooper reports asking each of them about illegal items. Galamue allegedly handed him more marijuana that was loose in his pocket.

A search of the vehicle allegedly revealed four large packages of marijuana underneath the rear cargo area with an approximate combined weight of 5 lbs 3 oz. Another large package weighing approximately 14 oz was allegedly found in a backpack and multiple small packages of marijuana purchased from a dispensary around the interior of the vehicle.

The three occupants, according to court reports, claimed they had left home in Minnesota on June 18 to go to Southern California, and had stopped in Colorado on the way to purchase marijuana from a dispensary. Galamue allegedly said that a guy in California had just left the marijuana in their car.

Due to the large quantity of marijuana located, the trooper reports that he did not believe it to be consistent with personal use and was instead intended for sale and distribution in Minnesota. He also reports that it appears evident all three occupants had knowledge it was in the vehicle.

Galamue pled guilty to a felony count of possession with intent to deliver and was sentenced by Judge Stuart S. Healy III to between four and eight years of incarceration and a $500 fine. All but 60 days of the sentence was suspended pending successful completion of three years of supervised probation.