A Mankato bondsman who was arrested a year ago during a drug sting has
pleaded guilty to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a machine
gun.




During a plea hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul,
Ronald Willis Strand, 61, admitted to possessing a model A-15 machine
gun, and two other machine guns, on May 14. That’s the day his house was
searched by the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force.




Strand had been arrested after allegedly trading a bail bond for
prescription drugs and a television. He was facing drug charges in Blue
Earth County, but those charges were dismissed after Strand was indicted
by a federal grand jury in October.




While searching Strand’s house for drugs, investigators found the
machine guns and other weapons. The Bloomington Bomb Squad also was
called to the house to help remove items that could have been used to
make explosives.




Strand was released on his own recognizance after making his first
appearance in federal court on Oct. 20. His release conditions were
continued while he awaits a sentencing hearing, which has not been
scheduled. Strand is facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.




Strand was initially arrested by the drug task force after an informant
reported he had exchanged $90,000 in bail for sexual favors and stolen
property. The informant set up a deal on May 13 where Strand allegedly
agreed to post a bond for that person to get out of jail. In exchange,
Strand allegedly agreed to accept a stolen television and several
prescription pills for the bond.




When the informant and a task force agent met Strand in downtown
Mankato, Strand helped the agent load a television into Strand’s pickup,
that criminal complaint said. Strand was stopped a few blocks away and
arrested. His house wasn’t searched until the next day.




Strand served as a Mankato police officer form July 1971 to July 1973.
He was terminated by the city’s Civil Service Commission, according to
city records. Those records do not list why Strand was fired.




More recently, Strand drew attention when he announced plans to
transform Garden City’s former middle school into a halfway house and
treatment facility for chemically dependent women and their children.