Married Couple Caught Running Drug Ring Out of Their At-Home Daycare

A North Dakota married couple was sentenced to prison time after a child abuse investigation uncovered a drug-selling business being operated out of their at-home daycare.

Cara Aus pleaded guilty to “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Deliver Cocaine, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Opiate) and Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance (Depressant),” according to a press release from the Fargo Police Department. Her husband, Joshua Aus, pleaded guilty to “Child Neglect and two counts of Drug Possession.”

The investigation began in April of 2024 when parents noticed their 2-month-old had a broken arm after spending the day at the couple’s daycare. Investigators determined the injury was not an accident and launched an abuse investigation that ultimately led to the couple’s daycare license being suspended.

Police continued their investigation and discovered the couple had failed to report several injuries, as required by law, brought to them by parents who used their daycare services, including “a broken clavicle, nursemaid’s elbow, unexplained bruising and other injuries,” per the press release.

According to court documents viewed by Valley News Live, police obtained a search warrant for Cara’s phone, where they found evidence of child abuse, including evidence that Cara knew about the 2-month-old’s broken arm and had given parents instructions to tell police “how great of a care giver” she was. Authorities also reportedly found a video showing a small child’s hand being placed on the front of a stove and the child crying. The phone also contained photos of what is believed to be that same child’s hand red and blistered.

Through digital evidence, witness evidence and physical evidence, investigators discovered that there was a narcotics business being operated within the home, often while the daycare children were present. According to Valley News Live, Cara’s phone had 88 Venmo transactions totaling more than $42,000 over an 18-month period.

When serving a search warrant for the home, the outlet reports Cara told investigators, “I don’t know what you guys think, go ahead look, you guys have this all wrong.”

Inside the home, police found cocaine paraphernalia, two controlled substances, marijuana and THC cartridges. It was also determined that the couple was supplying marijuana, mushrooms and alcohol to their 17-year-old daughter.

According to Fargo Police, Cara was sentenced to five years in prison, with 18 months to serve and the remainder suspended, followed by two years of supervised probation. As part of a plea agreement, child neglect charges against her were dropped. Meanwhile, Joshua was sentenced to 360 days in jail, with one day to serve and the remainder suspended, along with 18 months of supervised probation.