Ahead of Minnesota State Fair, Ramsey County sheriff sends 233 warning letters to potential gang members
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher is putting young people with potential gang connections on notice days before the start of the 2026 Minnesota State Fair.
Fletcher tells WCCO he sent 233 letters to people across the Twin Cities between the ages of 16 and 22, urging them to "consider this letter an opportunity to separate yourself from persons involved in criminal activity."
He says all were identified during investigations into 12 gangs.
"If you hang around other kids that are committing crimes and you come to the fair with them, we're going to document your activity and that can be used against you later in some court process," Fletcher said. "Either a crime for the benefit of a gang, a RICO conspiracy case or racketeering case."
Ten alleged gang members have already agreed to stay away from the fair after Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a civil suit against them.
The sheriff says six deputies who specialize in Somali gangs will be at the fair to intervene if those 10 alleged gang members violate the court order. He also said staffing will increase at night and law enforcement will have a focus on the Midway after 7 p.m.
"Settle your grievances elsewhere," Fletcher said. "Settle your grievances where it's not going to impact 2 million other people."
Instagram account advertises fair "battle"
According to court documents, members of The Ville gang fought members of its rival gang, Muddy, near the Midway last year. In 2024, a Muddy member shot a rival outside the gates on the last day of the fair.
Outside of the fair, members have been arrested in connection to shootings at the 2025 Burnsville High School graduation and the Metro State graduation earlier this year, according to the lawsuits.
In late July, a Ramsey County deputy noticed an Instagram account advertising "THE BIGGEST BATTLE OF THE SUMMER" at the state fair, listing Ville and other rival gangs, one of the suits says.
"They're literally advertising that they're gonna have a big fight at the fair, and we simply have to stop this before it happens to preserve public safety," Ellison told WCCO earlier this month.
The state fair begins on Aug. 27 and runs through Labor Day.