St. Cloud resident Macalla Lee Knott, 32, has been sentenced to over 26 years in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking ring originating from Mexico. Knott, who pleaded guilty nearly two years ago, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Fargo last week after admitting to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, money laundering conspiracy, and continuing criminal enterprise.
Knott managed the drug operation from Mexico, starting in March 2020, overseeing the shipment of approximately $10 million worth of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to distributors in the Upper Midwest. During the investigation, authorities seized over 100 pounds of methamphetamine, 9 pounds of fentanyl powder, and 120,000 fentanyl pills.
The drugs were linked to the Sinaloa cartel, previously headed by the infamous Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. While Knott’s family and friends pleaded for a lighter sentence, prosecutors emphasized how Knott’s persuasive leadership enabled the operation to run smoothly from abroad.
The investigation also led to the prosecution of 18 individuals in Minnesota and North Dakota, with 13 having already been sentenced. Knott’s father, Jeffrey Knott, 53, was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison last year for his involvement in the operation.
