Executive Summary
- Danny Gene Zaccardi, 62, faces first-degree drug sale and possession charges following a February 3 raid.
- Washington County Drug Task Force agents seized 9.89 pounds of meth in a bedroom and 14 ounces in a living area.
- Two Sig Sauer handguns were recovered alongside the narcotics behind a couch.
- Zaccardi reportedly admitted to officers that the room containing the majority of the drugs belonged to him.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. – A 62-year-old man faces significant felony charges after law enforcement officials seized nearly 11 pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms during a raid at an Inver Grove Heights residence earlier this month.
The Washington County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant on February 3 at a home located in the 3700 block of 78th Street East, according to a criminal complaint filed in Washington County District Court. Agents encountered three individuals inside the property, including the homeowner, identified as Danny Gene Zaccardi.
During the search, investigators discovered 9.89 pounds of methamphetamine scattered throughout a downstairs bedroom. The complaint alleges the narcotics were “packaged in numerous baggies in the closet, under the bed, on the floor, and scattered through the room.” Officers also located a vehicle registration bearing Zaccardi’s name and his cellphone within the same room.
In the living area, authorities found an additional 14 ounces of methamphetamine inside a bag behind a couch, alongside two handguns: a Sig Sauer P365 9mm and a Sig Sauer P232 .380 Kurz. According to the charging documents, Zaccardi identified the bedroom containing the bulk of the narcotics as his own. Another male occupant present at the scene told officers he was unaware of the methamphetamine in Zaccardi’s room.
Zaccardi has been charged with first-degree sale of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of a controlled substance. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigative Outlook
The volume of methamphetamine recovered in this operation points to a significant distribution node rather than simple possession for personal use. The seizure of nearly 11 pounds of narcotics, combined with firearms, elevates the public safety concerns surrounding the property. As the case proceeds, the specific admissions alleged in the complaint regarding the ownership of the bedroom will likely play a pivotal role in the prosecution’s effort to establish constructive possession of the contraband.
