"Organized drug dealers are smart," says U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon. "It's not just two guys duking it out and shaking hands," he says. Owens was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver. Please subscribe to keep reading. Keven Restrepo, 32, formerly of Kissimmee, FL, was arrested in September 2021, as the result. The ATF opened a bureau last year in the tiny town of Bottineau and within the first five months, the agent had opened 14 weapons cases throughout western North Dakota, many also involving drugs, says Scott Sweetow, special agent in charge in the region. "It's like trying to capture smoke," says Bryan Lockerby, administrator of the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation. Last spring, about 10 others, included two reputed members of the notorious Sinaloa cartel, were accused in a drug conspiracy. GRAND FORKS, N.D. There were 131 drug overdose deaths in North Dakota last year. People drive cars over other people. The Stutsman County Narcotics Task Force was assisted by the North Dakota Bureau of Investigation, Stutsman County Sheriffs Office, North Dakota Parole and Probation, and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. On Tuesday, a search was conducted at 502 13th St. Last fall, the feds and state officials in both states launched "Project Safe Bakken," a collaborative effort to pursue criminal networks, including drug dealers. The Beulah Police Department says they. He wound up, instead, in a North Dakota hospital, telling the FBI his story. A significant contributor to fentanyls increasing presence in North Dakota is the substantial amount of money to be made by selling drugs in smaller communities. The Beulah Police Department says they took 7 lbs of meth, 100 grams of heroin, drug paraphernalia and $50,000 in cash following a police chase. Johnsen now works on an oil rig in Montana. Sharon Cohen, a Chicago-based national reporter, can be reached at scohen@ap.org. Published: Nov. 13, 2020 at 11:56 AM PST BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - A man accused of fleeing police and having more than six pounds of meth has been indicted on federal charges. Limiting access to naloxone only prevents someone from receiving an effective emergency life-saving measure. Agents seized more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine, 50,000 fentanyl pills and 10 kilograms of heroin estimated at more than $2 million. The defendants are from all over, including North Carolina, Colorado, California, South Dakota, and several places in Mexico. Drug agents make large fentanyl seizure in North Dakota. Its kind of dangerous for kids, if these get passed along.. The seven men in the 2012 abduction-drug conspiracy had all come to Williston within two years before their arrests. Of the 21 defendants, nine multi-pound methamphetamine suppliers are residents of Iowa, while nine California residents supplied the drugs to Iowa. Counterfeit M30 pills have become commonplace in recent years and, thus, law enforcement can typically identify the pills as fentanyl. The data paint a picture that can help guide prevention efforts. In Watford City about 30 miles away there were just 41 calls in 2006. The pills make ingesting fentanyl much easier. Morning headlines: It's Spring Cleanup in the F-M area; find out what that means for you, NDSU Western Equestrian Team rides into nationals after almost losing their program, 5 things to know today: Lunch funding, Adviser removed, Minnesota marijuana, Minimum sentences, War bonnet, McFeely: Looking for a hot take? The Bakken shale fields oil boom has brought about a high cost of living in the area, especially for housing. Substance Use in North Dakota PowerPoint 2019. Make no mistake, Iowa is a target for drug cartels who are pumping hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine into our communities, said Krickbaum. There, they reported that they seized more than 3 pounds of marijuana along with two pistols and more than $19,000 in cash. The oil boom in the Bakken shale fields has touched off an explosion of growth and wealth on this remote wind-swept prairie. And the dismantling of a drug trafficking ring that sold meth for more than a year in one of the fastest-growing corners of America. "We're seeing a lot more armed drug traffickers than I've previously noticed," says Derek Hill, an ATF agent in Bismarck. The Bismark Tribune reported that the state recorded 118 drug-related deaths in 2020 a 49% jump from the previous year, according to the Division of Vital . Overdose statistics provided at the opioid roundtable discussion in Grand Forks were collected by the Department of Health and Human Services. In Montana, an ounce that might have sold for $800 in 2008 now goes for about $2,400-$2800. Research has shown that access to naloxone does not increase drug use. The group is accused of trafficking heroin, crack, cocaine, marijuana and painkillers in the Dickinson area, about 100 miles from Williston. Thats more than the states 101 traffic deaths in 2021. Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser said on Monday, a search was conducted at 1010 Western Park Village. I call it the drug of death, Hager said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. A 25-year-old Minot man has been arrested in the case. The Stutsman County Narcotics Task Force was assisted by the North Dakota Bureau of investigation, Stutsman County Sheriffs Office, North Dakota Parole and Probation and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). "It runs the gamut from high-end cartels to street dealers. Before the boom, he says, "I pretty much knew most of the defendants. Doug Burgum says, McFeely: Looking for a hot take? Its like playing Russian Roulette.. This complex, multi-jurisdictional investigation involved hundreds of man hours and had organizational ties to multiple federal and state investigations, said DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Richard Salter Jr. This case is yet another outstanding example of DEAs networking capabilities with local, state and federal law enforcement partners throughout the U.S.. All rights reserved. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) (The Associated Press). But the bonanza suddenly flourishing here has also brought with it a dark side: a growing trade in meth, heroin, cocaine and marijuana, the shadow of sinister cartels and newfound violence. WILLISTON, N.D. The blood-drenched man had survived a brutal attack: Beaten with brass knuckles, shocked with a stun gun, slashed with a razor blade, then dumped 40 miles away in Montana, he staggered to a farmhouse for help. He'd been heavy into meth and crack back home in the Chicago suburbs and decided to start over, moving to North Dakota. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. All rights reserved. "It used to be if someone was selling methamphetamine in the area, there probably were six degrees of separation from a Mexican cartel or a motorcycle gang," Purdon says. He helped start a twice-weekly support group of recovering substance abusers and stays out of bars. He was left for dead in a Montana field. In Detroit, DEA agents say one opioid pill sells for $5-$8 wholesale. During the search, officers located approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine, several grams of commercial THC products, approximately a half-pound of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and several pieces of drug paraphernalia for the use and distribution of controlled substances, Sheriff Kaiser reported. Fargo, ND, USA / The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO. But ultimately, good. Operation Despacito began in April 2017, as investigators tracked the Iowa-based distribution cell known for methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine trafficking. The Ward County Narcotics Task Force says the fentanyl has a street value of $350,000. What they uncovered was a large-scale methamphetamine ring that had found a home in a state long known for its small-town solitude, its slow pace and peaceful pastures. The Bakken shale fields oil boom has brought about a high cost of living in the area, especially for housing. With workers living in temporary addresses and drug dealers adept at blending in, investigators find it hard to develop the kind of who's who of local crime that other police departments have at their fingertips. We see that you have javascript disabled. Moorhead man accused of driving drunk, hitting pedestrian charged in court, North Dakota man accused of running over, killing teen after political argument faces less serious charge, Pentagon emails show National Guard preparing for mission hours before Minneapolis' Third Precinct burned, Arrest made in suspected Minneapolis mosque arsons, North Dakota man tried to pawn Native American war bonnet with golden eagle feathers, court docs allege, North Dakota Gov. DES MOINES, Iowa Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration Des Moines Resident Office partnered with the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations to take down 21 high-ranking members of the Jesse Sanchez Drug Trafficking Organization based out of Southern California and sourced by the Sinaloa Cartel. (North Dakota Century code 23-01-42) . Morton County and North Dakota Highway Patrol officers arrested three men on Interstate 94 after finding more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine in their vehicle . The bust comes as APD struggles to address rising crime after the Austin City Council in 2020 defunded it by over $150 million. Legal Statement. There are middle schoolers, for example, who have experienced an overdose.. Announcing The SD Hall of Fames Class of 2023, HSI online child sex crimes investigations lead to SD men getting charged, Statewide search for Union County murder case suspect, I-90, Exit 59 westbound on-ramp finally opening as DDI, Moms for Liberty continues push into South Dakota education policy conversation, Tourist attractions starting to open their doors as summer approaches, Remote yard waste sites now open for business, Its a bird, its a plane, its a BeethoVAN. In New Town, a hamlet that sits on the Fort Berthold reservation, Art Walgren, police chief until recently, said he knew when a new batch of heroin arrived, because there'd be a rash of overdoses. Theres disposable income in our state, said Solberg, heavy ag, heavy energy and the criminal element is just responding to that. North Dakota Offenses include Drug/Narcotics Violations, Drug Equipment Violations, Driving Under the Influence, Liquor Law Violations and all offenses where the offender used alcohol or drugs. NDSU's Grant Nelson will get drafted, Ashley Judd to speak at upcoming YWCA Cass Clay event, Roundabout project will close portion of County Highway 17 in West Fargo for 3 months. Arrests made in ND drug pipeline. "I was still under the mindset of 'work hard, party hard,'" Johnsen says. Please refresh browser window. During that search, officers found an additional 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, a half pound of marijuana and several pieces of drug paraphernalia, Sheriff Kaiser added. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers two milligrams of fentanyl to be a potentially lethal dose for someone who has not built up a tolerance to the drug. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. And a county jail filled to capacity. In South Dakota, people were from Rapid City, Box Elder, Hot Springs, Spearfish, and Sioux Falls. Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser reports that on Monday, December 7th, a search was conducted at 1010 Western Park Village in Jamestown. Of the overdose deaths Hager has seen in recent years, all of them, pretty much, are fentanyl-related.. The South Dakota Attorney Generals Office has also charged Travis Maho, Alex Nimmor, Duane Apple, Keith Laframboise, Orlyn Anderson, Tabitha Range, Chris Luke, Zack Franzen and Christopher Tomac in connection with this investigation. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. So far, 34 people have been arrested and most are pending trial. State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroups (SEOWs) are groups of data experts and prevention stakeholders responsible for bringing data on substance abuse and related behavioral problems to the forefront of the prevention planning process. More arrests. All rights reserved. "He was a young guy," he says. ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2014 AND THEREAFTER - This combination of undated images provided by the Williams County, N.D. Sheriff's Office in March 2014 shows, from left, Brian Dahl, also known as "Kodiak;" Jeffrey Jim Butler, also known as "Pops," and James Odeneal at the Williams County jail in Williston, N.D. They're trying to meet that demand and provide an adequate supply.. The process does not take place in multimillion dollar controlled lab facilities such as prescription pills tend to, Solberg said. "They're good businessmen. A North Dakota State University study released last year, called "Policing the Patch," found the number of police calls for service in Williston had quadrupled from 2005 to 2011 to nearly 16,000. North Dakota Substance Abuse Data Prevention research has illustrated the importance of using data to guide efforts in making a positive change. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( "They market it well. Mercer Count Deputies say Newhauser fled from them reaching speeds over 100mph in October. Investigators east of Cheyenne found the heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine inside a hidden compartment located in the back of a se, A California man on Thursday was sentenced to six years in prison for mailing almost two pounds of meth hidden inside a peanut butter jar and , A man accused of holding a loaded gun to the face of a Fargo police officer has been charged in federal court, U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley anno, A man who was dressed in a gorilla suit and was armed with a machete has been arrested for threatening neighbors at a Fargo apartment building, Federal prosecutors say they have cut into an opioid pipeline that for five years has been moving millions of dollars worth of oxycodone pills. The two pleaded guilty to distributing at least 80 pounds of meth to local drug dealers within a five-month period; the intended market, the feds say, was the oil patch. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Now there's no time for that. (He stopped riding his motorcycle, selling his Harley.) We see that you have javascript disabled. Three co-conspirators are from Nevada. Four of the 37 people have already pleaded guilty. According to the affidavit, deputies found more than 6 pounds of meth, 104 grams of heroin and $50,000 in cash during a search of him and the car he was driving. Three people have been arrested for their involvement. The mission of the North Dakota SEOW is to identify, analyze and communicate key substance abuse and related behavioral health data to guide programs, policies and practices. WILLISTON (AP) Three people are charged in a Williston drug bust that netted thousands of dollars' worth of meth and heroin. These might be individuals using a bullet to mix up, and so one pill might have an extremely potent amount of fentanyl, and one pill might be light, Solberg said. Authorities arrested . The oil boom with its gusher of dollars was already under way more than three years ago when Tim Purdon was sworn in as chief federal prosecutor for western North Dakota. With the problems becoming more pronounced, the feds are pouring in resources to bolster local police and drug task forces. He turned things around, though, and has been sober since September 2012. Officials at local law enforcement agencies throughout the region say a marked increase in population from the oil boom is stretching their resources. All rights reserved. PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A Providence man who acted as a supplier of fentanyl to a mid-level drug trafficker was sentenced today to nearly six-and-a-half years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine). In 2011: almost 4,000. Across North Dakota, DEA agents intercepted 1,541 fake pills in the fiscal . The methamphetamine has a street value of around $200,000. Miles Scherer was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of THC, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Opioid users often purchase fentanyl pills believing it is heroin or oxycodone, police said, adding that fentanyl can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin. The size of the drop in the state's production from 1.4 million barrels per day (b/d) at the start of the year to 860,000 b/d by May could exceed the oil production decline in Texas in . Theyre just taking a chance, whether they know it or not, said Hager. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, He arrived with a mountain of debts and $11.72 in his pocket. Authorities say several "Family" members had abducted and planned to kill one of their own, seeking to enforce their code of silence out of fear he'd spill the group's secrets. Leader of Multi-State Drug Trafficking Group Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Heroin April 7, 2023 Read More Press Release Beckley Woman. In addition, approximately $425,000 in drug proceeds and assets were seized during a two year period. The Kingpin Act denies significant foreign narcotics traffickers, their related businesses and their operatives, access to the U.S. financial system, and all trade and transactions involving U.S. companies and individuals. Epidemiological Profiles: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit Drug Consumption and Consequences in North Dakota, State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW), Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs in North Dakota, North Dakota Alcohol and Crime Underage Youth, Substance Use and Mental Illness in North Dakota Adults, Adult Binge Drinking: a Culture of Drinking and Driving, Prescription Drug Abuse Is a Growing Problem, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National. They also say crime, including drug trafficking, is up. All rights reserved. The Des Moines Resident Office is part of DEAs Omaha Division encompassing Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota as well as parts of Illinois and Wisconsin. Local police chiefs deal with the tragic results. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. They go where the demand is and that's what we're seeing here. LOW: LOW 30S. Federal prosecutions in the western half of North Dakota nearly tripled from 126 in 2009 to 336 last year mostly, he says, because of drug cases involving several people. The state epidemiological profiles are created to serve as a reference document for state and community prevention practitioners, summarizing the available state-level data regarding alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse. The veteran sheriff says he once employed a "North Dakota nice" philosophy where law enforcement tried to solve problems, whenever possible, by avoiding tickets and jailing people. Though fentanyl (a synthetic opioid) has been prevalent in North Dakota for a number of years now, Grand Forks County States Attorney Haley Wamstad said it has become much more accessible.. Study puts North Dakota at the top for DUI rates. RAPID CITY, S.D. There's simply a lot of money involved, a lot of money flowing around in those communities.". But old habits die hard. North Dakota's U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley says it's a step in the right direction. BERTHOLD, N.D. -- Authorities seized 11 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Tuesday, Jan. 3, and are calling it one of the largest drug busts in North Dakota. Sav Kelly joined the Grand Forks Herald in August 2022. February 24, 2021. Market data provided by Factset. (AP Photo/Williams County, N.D. Sheriff's Office), ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2014 AND THEREAFTER - An officer guides a handcuffed man into a police car in Williston, N.D. on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. The criminal indictment states the pills were. Ninety percent of the people who come here to work in the oil fields are good people. BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - A man accused of fleeing police and having more than six pounds of meth has been indicted on federal charges. As the population skyrocketed, Purdon noticed a seemingly inevitable consequence: more people, more crime. In addition to the drugs, agents seized three assault rifles, multiple stolen handguns and a stolen U.S. Marine Corps firearm suppressor within Des Moines city limits. "We're battling our butts off to stay ahead of this," Purdon says. April 21, 2023 1:05 PM ET. The focus of OCDETF is to catch drug traffickers, money launderers and transnational criminal organizations. SE #7 in Jamestown. Busching concedes it took time for him to accept the dramatic changes but he came around. However, the drug is commonly manufactured into a pill that resembles M30s (oxycodone). Pills seized in Minot's biggest fentanyl bust worth $350,000, police say . There were even multiple federal and state agencies outside of South Dakota that helped in the investigation. Judge David Nelson sees some of those lawbreakers in his court. Tanker trucks rumble down the roads day and night. Lock drugs, cash seized in Jamestown drug busts. Sep 16th 2020 - 6pm. Oil is expected to flow in the Bakken for another generation or more. We will find these drug traffickers and put them in federal prison. Prevention research has illustrated the importance of using data to guide efforts in making a positive change. Recent arrivals come and go from "man camps" rows of identical, barrack-like dorms sitting on empty fields. Though his felony record should have barred him from owning firearms, he was arrested with nine rifles, six pistols, four shotguns and three revolvers. It's not like you catch one organization and it's over. NDSU's Grant Nelson will get drafted, North Dakota Gov. The department brings together public health and public safety agencies across the state to explore the depth of the issue as well as potential solutions. Agents seized more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine, 50,000 fentanyl pills and 10 kilograms of heroin estimated at more than $2 million. During that search, officers found an additional 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, a half-pound of marijuana and several pieces of drug paraphernalia, Sheriff Kaiser added. The three men arrested were listed as being between the ages of 22 to 42. Metro Area Task Force officers say they found 5,000 fentanyl pills,. ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2014 AND THEREAFTER - This combination of undated images provided by the Williams County, N.D. Sheriff's Office in March 2014 shows, from left, Brian Dahl, also known as "Kodiak;" Jeffrey Jim Butler, also known as "Pops," and James Odeneal at the Williams County jail in Williston, N.D. The defendants told DPS special agents the drugs came from Mexico and the weapons were heading to Mexico later this week. However, the number of overdoses is likely much higher than statistics show because many overdose deaths are not reported, according to Northeast Central Judicial District Presiding Judge Donald Hager.
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