(COLUMBIA Co.) A routine traffic stop on a busy stretch of interstate turned into a major drug bust that authorities say likely saved lives in Columbia County.
A Minnesota man is headed to federal prison for 12 years after deputies found nearly a pound of heroin mixed with fentanyl — along with more than $110,000 in cash — hidden inside his vehicle during a stop on Interstate 90/94/39.
Federal prosecutors say Ernest McCurty of Minneapolis was stopped by a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Nov. 7, 2023. During the investigation, deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle and uncovered approximately 394 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, along with large amounts of U.S. currency concealed inside grocery bags.
Investigators later confirmed McCurty’s DNA was found on the container holding the drugs. A review of his cell phones also uncovered messages tied to drug trafficking activity, according to court records.
McCurty was federally charged with possession of heroin intended for distribution and pleaded guilty in May 2025.
On Sept. 24, 2025, Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson sentenced McCurty to 12 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Prosecutors said the sentence reflected several aggravating factors, including McCurty’s history of drug trafficking and the fact that he was already under state supervision for similar offenses at the time of the arrest.
At sentencing, the court also cited McCurty’s conduct while on pretrial release and emphasized the harm drug trafficking causes to local communities.
Sheriff’s officials credited their deputies and detectives for recognizing suspicious behavior during the traffic stop and taking the time to build probable cause that ultimately led to the seizure.
Authorities said removing that amount of heroin and fentanyl from circulation likely prevented overdoses and deaths.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said it remains committed to aggressively targeting drug trafficking and keeping dangerous substances off local streets, adding that partnerships with federal agencies like the DEA are critical to those efforts.
Federal prosecutors said the case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s broader push to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks and protect communities from violent crime.
