Wrigley says those indicted targeted and preyed on low-level dealers across Indian Country in North Dakota. Wrigley alleges evidence can show transportation of tens of thousands of oxycodone pills, worth around $2.5 million into North Dakota alone. The ring also reportedly had ties to Detroit, Mich. The indictment alleged that the following individuals conspired to sell methamphetamine: Uzziel Lucero Garcia, a/k/a O Girl, a/k/a Uzzi, age 25, Arizona, Allan Gordon Widmayer, a/k/a Woody, age 57, Minot, North Dakota, Corey James Baker, age 50, Sheyenne, North Dakota, Nathan James Smith, age 40, Fort Totten, North Dakota, Charlsie Marie Walking Elk, age 36, Tokio, North Dakota. Four other defendants Osagyefo Nagbe, 19, Farmington Hills, Mich.; Jonathan Bernard Walker, 39, Detroit; Basil Huntsalong, 35, Mandaree, N.D.; and Dennison Jay Nex Jr., 29, Parshall, N.D.; were named in Wednesday's news conference. Updated: Apr 23, 2021 / 11:15 AM EDT. All arrested defendants are pending trial, with the exceptions of Barker, Bell, Hunter, and Schumacher, each of whom has pleaded guilty. Posted: Apr 22, 2021 / 07:32 PM EDT. FARGO Federal prosecutors have started to unveil defendants in a significant opioid trafficking case they say led one of the most violent Detroit gangs to North Dakota Indian reservations. As part of the conspiracy, some of the defendants allegedly sought out oxycodone users to buy illegal drugs from others or found sub-distributors of oxycodone to provide the drug for other conspirators, according to the complaint. Between April 2015 at the latest through September 2020, the 12 men above possessed and distributed controlled substances, according to an indictment. U.S. says it 'infiltrated' the Sinaloa drug cartel in the fight against fentanyl. In likely his last news conference, U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley on Wednesday, Feb. 24, named DeVonsha Dabney and Romel Rambus, two 26-year-olds Agents with the MHA Nation's Division of Drug Enforcement make a drug-related arrest during a June traffic stop in Parshall, North Dakota. Wakefield insists he wasn't the mastermind who decided to target North Dakota, his attorney, Kent Morrow, told The Courier Journal. "It was all directed from Detroit," Morrow said. The investigation remains active. The South Dakota Attorney Generals Office charged nine persons with state offenses as part of the same Operation. Among those indicted in the latest case include Romel Rambus, who is also known as Bagboy Mell, who has been indicted for a continuing criminal enterprise, money laundering conspiracy, Devonsha Dabney, whose aliases include Kemell, Mellyvsmell, and Rell, who has been indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, participating in a continuing criminal enterprise, participating in a money laundering conspiracy, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and aiding and abetting; Jonathan Walker, also known as J, who was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of a fentanyl mixture, possession with intent to distribute a fentanyl mixture, and aiding and abetting; Ervin Leon Sampson Jr., 22, also known as Mike, who was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, maintaining a drug-involved premises, distribution of an oxycodone mixture, and aiding and abetting; Osagyefo Nkrumah Nagbe, who was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a fentanyl mixture, and aiding and abetting; Jalen Komani Hester, 22, also known as Dream, who was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a fentanyl mixture, and aiding and abetting; Kristin Kaylen Johnson, 24, who was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; and Dennison Jay Nez Jr., also known as DJ, who was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; and Basil Hunts Along, who was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. DEA officials say the bust is tied to one case investigated as part of their One Pill Can Kill initiative. 1114 Weve had witnesses shot. Wrigley says heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl are the among the major drugs being sold on the Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain and Fort Berthold Indian Reservations since 2015. In 2021, 107,622 people died from drug poisoning or overdose, with 66% being attributed to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. In 2017, authorities made over 260,000 arrests for drug violations in the state of North Dakota alone. "We have very much, very intentionally drawn a line in the dirt, and the Reub gang is on the wrong side of that," he said. Three people have been arrested for their involvement. You are going to see a lot of this case in the months and maybe even in the years up ahead, Wrigley said, referring to the case as Operation Letter to Reub. A jury trial has been scheduled for Feb. 23 in U.S. District Court in Fargo before Judge Peter Welte for some defendants whom authorities allege were part of a a drug trafficking ring that distributed oxycodone on the Fort Berthold, Turtle Mountain, and Spirit Lake reservations between 2015 and 2019. Wrigley tells KVRR News that the people involved in these cases are violent and dangerous. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. In likely his last news conference, U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley on Wednesday, Feb. 24, named DeVonsha Dabney and Romel Rambus, two 26-year-olds from Detroit, as suspected ring leaders of the Reub gang, which allegedly trafficked tens of millions of dollars worth of fentanyl and oxycodone pills to the Fort Berthold, Spirit Lake and Turtle Mountain reservations in North Dakota. A 10-month investigation by the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force into violence and drug dealing in the area of Pennsylvania and North Avenues in West Baltimore has led to six federal indictments charging a total of 29 defendants for conspiracy, drug distribution, and firearms charges. Baker was arrested in a June traffic stop in Grand Forks, were police seized 8 ounces of meth and $27,000. Sign up today! Announces Pharmacy Robbery-Burglary Protection Program with Pharmacists Mutual Insurance, Opioid Crisis Discussion Held In Ann Arbor, Norton Doctor Arrested and Faces Drug and Fraud Charges. Anyone with information on people charged in the latest round of indictments is asked to call the Wise County Sheriffs Office at (276) 328-3566. A grand jury indicted 25-year-old Uzziel Garcia, of Arizona; 57-year-old Allan Widmayer, of Minot; 50-year-old Corey Baker, of Sheyenne; 40-year-old Nathan Smith, of Fort Totten; and 36-year-old Charlsie Walking Elk, of Tokio. In turn, lives are being destroyed, families are torn apart and communities are stretched to their breaking point. OMAHA, N.E. In January, Wrigley announced Also, 129 of those investigations are linked to social media platforms, including Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and TikTok. Outside of South Dakota, agencies assisted from the Reno County (KS) Drug Enforcement Unit, Billings (MT) Drug Task Force, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Saint Joe (MO) Drug Task Force, Utah Highway Patrol, Utah State Bureau of Investigation, Greensboro (NC) Drug Task Force, and the Yuba City (CA) NET5 Drug Task Force. Announces Pharmacy Robbery-Burglary Protection Program With Pharmacists Mutual Insurance NAPLES, FL 02/07/2019 (PRDistribution.com) Scripps WEMU 89.1 Online; audio of the discussion can be found at the below link https://www.wemu.org/post/opioid-crisis-discussion-held-ann-arbor ByJORGE AVELLANMAY 15, 2019 A Norton physician has been charged with obtaining drugs by fraud and related crimes. Further investigation showed that that he Baker and Walking Elk were involved in the distribution. Weve had witnesses killed. Im incredibly proud of these dedicated state, local, tribal, and federal officers and agents, and all hands are on deck as we continue to work together to defeat the scourge of illegal drugs that is devastating communities across the State., Our partnership with the U.S. Attorneys office has been incredibly successful in this matter, said David Natvig, Director of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Copyright Minot Daily News | https://www.minotdailynews.com | 301 4th St SE, Minot, ND 58701 | 701-857-1900. The premium, the same pills that are being sold here in North Dakota for 80 dollars a pill, the exact same pill is going to sell for maybe 25 dollars in Chicago Wrigley said. Copyright Minot Daily News | https://www.minotdailynews.com | 301 4th St SE, Minot, ND 58701 | 701-857-1900. Grand Jury indicts St. Louis man and others in international drug ring By DOJ Press November 10, 2021 the gateway arch of st. louis missouri. There is a third person suspected of supervising several members, but he remains at large. Fargo, ND, USA / The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO. Romel Rambus appeared to have started the gang as a tribute to his brother, Wrigley said. The investigation indicated that the methamphetamine came from Baker through Charlsie Walking Elk. A drug roundup in Tazewell County has resulted in the indictment of 116 people, with most of those already arrested and police are searching for the rest. In an effort to combat the opioid epidemic and help people in need, the state of Michigan has unveiled Scripps Safe, Inc. She grew up on a ranch 10 miles southeast of Belfield, N.D., where her family raises Hereford cattle. BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Federal authorities say five people are accused in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that brought more than 350 pounds of methamphetamine to two American Indian reservations in North Dakota in the last three years. Dubbed Operation Blue Prairie, that investigation uncovered the trafficking of tens of thousands of oxycodone pills worth $2.5 million that came from Detroit. Directly under them in the operation were Derrick Eugene Walker and Dondiago Francisco Jones, both of whom are from Detroit and who, along with Baquan Sledge and Darius Sledge, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. federally indicted as part of OCDETF Operation Say Uncle. Barker, Hunter, and Schumacher are pending sentencing. Authorities allege that Jamale White has made a habit of traveling to and from North Dakota from Michigan to engage in drug trafficking. In January of 2021, Nathan Smith was arrested on Spirit Lake tribal charges following a high-speed chase. All but three of the defendants have been arrested. All five defendants face the possibility of life in prison without parole. (Valley News Live) - A four-month DEA investigation into drug trafficking in central North Dakota has resulted in the seizure of more than 11,000 fentanyl pills. Bakers sources were identified as Widmayer and Garcia. A federal grand jury has indicted several people in connection with a drug trafficking ring originating in Michigan and involving drug trafficking, including of "This conspiracy is alleged to have been targeting North Dakota communities in multiple pound quantities and that translates to thousands of doses of drugs that have been intercepted and taken off the street before they could further fuel addition. Unless otherwise stated, photos Big Stock Photography Dreamstime Photos Google Maps Thompson Reuters. A number of other people were indicted earlier in another case in connection with a trafficking ring based in Michigan that had trafficked drugs on North Dakota reservations and the surrounding area. 26 defendants were charged in a separate ring, Minnesota, North Dakota to get part of $573M opioid settlement, Minot's largest fentanyl bust, worth about $400,000, goes to federal court, Michigan man found with 2,000 fentanyl pills in Bismarck hotel, prosecutors allege, Local public golf courses showing signs of life, opening soon, Empty department director positions swell to 6 in West Fargo city government, The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack podcast: Orange Whip and Dave Schultz, 'A fairly regular issue,' area animal shelters see no end in sight to overcrowding, As West Fargo teacher nears end of prestigious fellowship, school district wont rehire her, Fargo finance chief has history of yelling, creating toxic work environment, records show, Historic school building near downtown Fargo may get new purpose. With this in mind, its important that we continue educating our families and friends on the deadly consequences of this toxic drug.. All Rights Reserved. Doug Burgum on Saturday signed a major pension reform bill that protects the retirement benefits DENVER FEMA has approved $3.7 million in Public Assistance funding for COVID-19 and severe winter storm and Trucks carrying fresh vegetables, bakery items, boxed goods and other items will be making stops in Dodge, Mandaree Kevin Vigested has been named the new president and CEO at Aspire Credit Union. The indictments are currently sealed because of the sheer number of defendants, Wrigley said. FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) More charges have been filed in connection with what federal prosecutors say is a pipeline thats transporting drugs from the Detroit area to Indian reservations in North Dakota. The investigation indicated that Baker had been receiving 2-3 pounds of methamphetamine per month from Widmayer and Garcia since 2018, resulting in more One Pill Can Kill started in September 2021. WebDrug crimes are one of the most common offenses in North Dakota. The defendants are allegedly The charges allege the defendants conspired with each other to bring multiple pounds of methamphetamine into Western South Dakota beginning in 2019 and continuing into 2020. Bell was sentenced on November 16, 2020, to more than 12 years in federal prison. "We have seen a recent surge in both methamphetamine and opioid cases, and the FBI remains committed to working with our partners to arrest those responsible for threatening and exploiting tribal communities.". Authorities say other drugs including methamphetamine, marijuana, and morphine pills were also seized in the bust. Honor Flight Takes Around 100 Local Veterans to Washington, D.C. Authorities say Baker had received up to 3 pounds of meth per month from Widmayer and Garcia since 2018. A controlled buy and a search warrant on Widmayers house yielded more than 30 pounds of methamphetamine and more than $32,000 in cash. Nov 9, 2021 | 3:54 PM BISMARCK, N.D. Five people are accused in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that brought more than 350 pounds of methamphetamine to two American Indian reservations in North Dakota in the last three years. Cases involving different organizations and conspiracies moving things narcotics in, again largely opioids. Defendant: Kelly A. Walter and Kayla B. Walter Cause Of Action: 15 U.S.C. Some used houses on a reservation or reservations to distribute the drugs. Brothers Baquan Sledge and Darius Sledge are accused of leading that drug operation that started in 2015, according to court documents. OCDETF stands for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, which is a keystone of the Attorney Generals strategy to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics throughout the United States using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriffs Office, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. But the Chief of the She's seen more and more fentanyl-laced pills, with dealers who supply the reservation also setting up hubs in the closest cities across North Dakota: Bismarck, Minot and Williston. One of the most notorious traffickers was Wakefield. However, Detroit has become a hub for shipping opioids to various parts of the U.S., he said. The NADDI Board of Directors is pleased to announce the launch of our brand new website! Federal prosecutors in Rapid City, South Dakota, working cooperatively with law enforcement agencies across the State, federally charged 37 defendants with drug-related offenses, despite the challenges imposed on the criminal justice system and law enforcement officers everywhere by COVID-19. Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. The premium, the same pills that are being sold here in North Dakota for 80 dollars a pill, the exact same pill is going to sell for maybe 25 dollars in Chicago Wrigley said. Wrigley says drug dealers like to do business in North Dakota because street prices are much more expensive here than other places around the country. Walz Attends Operating Engineers Union Convention in Florida, Thousands rummage through items for sale in West Fargo, Woman hospitalized after being hit by vehicle in Dilworth; 1 in custody, N.D. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Fargo held a press conference on Thursday to discuss developments in Operation Blue Prairie.. According to the court documents, White is deemed a flight risk and his social media pages are filled with pictures of him with guns and conversations between some co-defendants about the sale of firearms and trafficking of oxycodone and fentanyl pills. Weve had witnesses shot. Garcia was arrested after she traveled to North Dakota to collect money. Jamale White also had a criminal record in Michigan and was allegedly driving a stolen Jeep that collided with a semi and caught fire in August 2020, leaving him with injuries. Two of the firearms that had been recovered from the wreckage had been linked to shootings in Michigan, according to the court documents filed in federal court. Other related indictments were handed down against some of the participants. Robert Barnes, accused in 2021 of firing a shot toward another man during an argument, has pleaded guilty to illegal discharge of a firearm, according to Montrose Combined Court records. As a result of a traffic stop in Grand Forks in June of 2021, law enforcement seized eight ounces of methamphetamine and more than $27,000 in cash from Baker. Nearly ", "This indictment paints a tragic picture of a coordinated distribution effort to push this poison across tribal lands," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul. Law enforcement officials in Michigan informed Wrigley his office is investigating one of the most violent gangs in Detroit. Federal Tax ID: 52-1660752 / DUNS Number: 073539913, Copyright 2023 - NADDI. These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. On the first occasion, he had marijuana in his possession and U.S. currency. A later search of his vehicle yielded 73 grams of methamphetamine. Contact the Webmaster to submit comments. Months-long, multi-agency investigation results in 14 indictments for six murders and several shootings driving Wilmington violence Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday that the Department of Justice has secured the indictment of 14 defendants on more than 120 criminal charges stemming from their involvement in the A Manhattan grand jury indicted six suspects tied to the alleged gang rings targeting New York Citys nightlife including three men suspected of being connected to the deaths of two gay men, John Umberger, 33, and Julio Ramirez, 25 but the NYPD Prosecutors allege the 30-person group at the center of Operation Letter to Reub started trafficking opioids to North Dakota in 2015, with operations continuing into this year. In the wreckage around the Jeep, authorities found two firearms and a fired 9mm cartridge casing. As part of the initiative, more than 10.2 million fentanyl pills and nearly 980 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized during a nationwide enforcement activity between May 23 and September 8, 2022. The state charged defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Trevor Thielen. She double majored in communications and history/political science at the University of Jamestown, N.D. We see that you have javascript disabled. BISMARCK, N.D. Five people are accused in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that brought more than 350 pounds of methamphetamine to two American Indian reservations in North Dakota in the last three years. More people indicted for trafficking drugs on North Dakota Indian reservations January 8, 2021 Jim Monk FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) More charges have CHARGES LESSENED FOR ND MAN ACCUSED OF RUNNING OVER, KILLING TEEN AFTER POLITICAL ARGUMENT. Wrigley tells KVRR News that the people involved in these cases are violent and dangerous. RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that 37 people have been federally indicted as part of OCDETF Operation Say Uncle. Twenty-two men and women accused of dealing methamphetamine and heroin in northwest North Dakota had their names made public Monday. Cheyenne and hundreds of other Native Americans in North Dakota have been ensnared by Detroit traffickers, who set up a drug pipeline more than a decade ago targeting North Dakota cities and reservations, according to tribal police and a supervisor with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He was 23 years old, according to media reports.

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