Twenty-seven-year-old Travis Henley of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, ST. MICHAEL, N.D. (KVRR) A drug bust at Spirit Lake Casino south of Devils Lake. Benson County Sheriff's Office and Bureau of Indian Affairs Police were called . Wakefield established networks of area dealers and users in various North Dakota cities and on the Fort Berthold reservation, about an hour southwest of Minot, according to drug agents and court records. Indian reservations can be easy prey because dealers can find a midlevel person who can be trusted and law enforcement is generally understaffed, Wrigley said. We knock off two, and four more come. RIGHT: Patrol Agent and K9 handler Britney Larvie watches for suspicious activity while on patrol in Parshall, North Dakota, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. FARGO, N.D. The hard work of a Fargo Police K9 leads to a major drug bust in south Fargo. Wakefield insists he wasn't the mastermind who decided to target North Dakota, his attorney, Kent Morrow, told The Courier Journal. Bismarck Police Department received information that Barth was A criminal complaint. Authorities say it is expected that this case will be federally adopted in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota. Were making large strides in clogging those arteries of drug trafficking and the preying upon those in Indian Country in North Dakota, Wrigley said. TOP: The remote North Dakota plains, home to rodeos (left) and a running of the steers event (right) on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation seems like a world away from the bustle and violence of Detroit. 2021 Oct 1, 2021; But, as she knows too well, many die before getting the chance to recover. Woman hospitalized after being hit by vehicle in Dilworth; 1 in custody, Alabama man arrested in West Fargo pursuit, Legal cannabis in Minnesota will lead to law enforcement challenges in North Dakota, Minnesota Senate votes 34-33 to legalize recreational cannabis, NDSU Star and Hankinson Native, Mauch Drafted By Bucs. "He might have been one of the bigger players here, but he wasn't one of the bigger players in the overall conspiracy.". Cheyenne's doctor first prescribed opioids yearsago, before physicians and patients understood the addiction risks. information that Barth had much more meth, but Haas suspects some When Packineauvisited her daughter'sgrave this summer, she found a little blue plastic dinosaur that Kasten, now4, left near his mom's granite tombstone. She called himher "little sunshine,"tickledhim while changing his diaperand loved keeping him by her side. We were finishing our paperwork," to secure a federal indictment. Drug Enforcement Administration and Cass County Drug Task Force seize 9.5 pounds of meth from West Fargo hotel (1), Man arrested for arson after two Minneapolis mosque fires, Woman hospitalized after being hit by vehicle in Dilworth; 1 in custody, Alabama man arrested in West Fargo pursuit, Thousands rummage through items for sale in West Fargo, Gov. In 2015, investigations began into a drug ring responsible for trafficking tens of thousands of Oxycodone pills, worth an estimated $2.5 million, throughout the three North Dakota reservations and Michigan. afternoon that Barth was at the Ramada Limited Suites in Bismarck. Shestood up to leave and glanced around the cemetery, pointing to two gravestones side by side brothers who overdosed in the same week, leaving another family reeling from the drug epidemic. January 07, 2021. Cheyennenamed him for her favorite court move, casting three-pointers. And the financial rewards are immense. "It was three crazy days of getting information and acting on "The illegal drug trade is so devastating," said MHA Nation Chairman Mark Fox, an attorney andU.S. Marine Corp veteran. Barth and Guitron-Vargas were charged with conspiracy to deliver Police say they have tried to arrest Anderson multiple times over the past several weeks but were unsuccessful. Dawn White, a 45-year-old tribal drug agentwho grew up on the reservation, teamed with Cheyenne's parents to get the young womaninto treatmentand hasmade it her mission to target those supplying the deadly drugs killing so many people there. WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) - The Cass County Drug Task Force with the Drug Enforcement Administration made a significant methamphetamine drug bust. ABOVE: Patrol Agent and K9 handler Britney Larvie watches for suspicious activity while on patrol in Parshall, North Dakota, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. They smuggled the pain pillsby train, plane, bus andcar. Authorities say someone who received the package in error called sheriffs officials earlier this week. On Wednesday, December 8, 2021 the bust. Could trucks be to blame for killing more pedestrians? Since the start of the year, federal authorities have arrested almost 60 people in connection to a drug pipeline running from Detroit to the Peace Garden State. If the meth had been Weve always fought our enemies. But drug traffickers can get a lot more money hauling drugs here, where there are fewer police and competing dealers. Barth with little incident. The Fort Berthold reservation is home to an estimated 5,628 enrolled members of theMHA Nation, which includes members of Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara, known as the Three AffiliatedTribes. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The investigation into Shawn Barth, 32, of Bismarck, and a Two arrested after 9.5 pounds of meth is seized from West Fargo motel, Mother arrested for leaving children home alone to go to gym, police say, Police: Man shipped $3 million worth of fentanyl to restaurant, Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash, Mr. Food Cheesy Bacon Pierogi Bake - May 1, Mosque Fire Suspect Arrested and Charged - May 1, Fargo man fails to return to Center Inc. while on work release - May 1, Pounds moving to new location in downtown Fargo - May 1. Packineau is haunted by a question: What if the last person to see her alive had called 911? Dawn Whitealso is haunted by the traffickers she didn't catch sooner. FARGO, N.D. Federal authorities said Wednesday they are investigating a drug pipeline that involves moving the powerful opioid fentanyl and other painkillers from the Detroit area to . methamphetamine bust in south central North Dakota history. world's "food chain." The two used a methodical approach to recruit sellers who would in turn recruit others, Wrigley said. 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 Records. The two also are charged with operating a continuous criminal enterprise, which means they organized the business, managed at least five people and derived a substantial income by doing so. (KFYR) By Joe Skurzewski. The criminal indictment states the pills were distributed in or near the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, Spirit Lake Indian Reservation and Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. "It's taking so many lives," she said. Copyright 2021 KVLY. BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Law enforcement says they seized thousands of illegal pills and thousands in cash in two drug busts. One of the most notorious traffickers was Wakefield. intent to deliver and meth paraphernalia. Neither the DEA nor tribal police could say which cartel is supplying the drugs that ultimately end up on the reservation and surrounding cities. ), State Securities Commissioner Karen Tyler has ordered two eastern North Dakota men to stop the alleged sale of $25 million in unregistered pro, A citizen group that wants more details about the Bismarck Public School District's finances has successfully petitioned theNorth Dakota Stat, A chase that reached speeds of 120 mph on rural roads ended in Bismarck after police fired several shots and arrested a man they say shot at t. The flames burn on an oil rig at dusk outside New Town, North Dakota, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. already had been broken down and distributed. He was caught June 10, 2020, while transporting hundreds of suspected fentanyl pills. SHARE. It is fueling and driving the addiction problems we have in Indian Country and across the state of North Dakota, Wrigley said. "You had her in life," White told them. But sports injuries led to a pain pill addiction that ultimately cut short her studies and eventually, her life. The suspects were quickly identified and a search warrant was obtained to recover the stolen items and officers found a large quantity of meth. "Why wouldnt I be passionate to fight this?". maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Traffickers areparticularly drawn to Fort Berthold. Its as simple as it is nefarious.. On Wednesday, December 8, local Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and the Cass County Drug Task Force received a tip that a drug courier was at the Rodeway Inn with a large amount of meth. Could trucks be to blame for killing more pedestrians? Posted: Sep 9, 2021 / 09:33 PM CDT. Riha said. Wakefieldrecruited associates in Michigan to bringshipments of OxyContin, court records show. Dawn White and other tribal drug agents first noticed a Detroit link to an influx of drugs in 2012 when they came across Victor Nicholas Wakefield. FARGO, N.D., On January 7, Drew Wrigley, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, announced charges against 26 defendants involved in Operation Blue Prairie, a drug pipeline connecting individuals in Detroit, Michigan, to the Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain and Fort Berthold Indian Reservations in North Dakota. Rachelle Baker leans into the car window of her aunt, tribal police drug agent Dawn White, to thank her for arresting her years ago and nudging her into drug treatment, saving her life. Eight of the 26 defendants are from Detroit, one is from Kentucky and 17 are from North Dakota. (KVRR) - A Mississippi man is in custody after authorities in South Dakota seized several pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded gun and a large amount of cash on Interstate 29 near. Cheyenne suffered several relapses, which is common. U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley announced that 26 people have been indicted in an anti-drug effort called Operation Blue Prairie, which targeted the movement of oxycodone pills from the Detroit area to North Dakota. 0. "This is pretty high-grade meth.". The next day,Oct. 15, 2018, Packineau began to worry when she couldn't reach her daughter by phone. No one has been charged in the death, but police know that Cheyenne and her circle often were supplied by drugs from Detroit,White said. Roberts County Sheriff Tyler Appel says a deputy found the drugs during a routine traffic stop Tuesday. Drew Wrigley is the U.S. attorney for North Dakota. Cheyenne Marie Packineau's abrupt downfall illustrates how drugsshatterpotential and threatenthe community's future. They'respread over a million acreslive insmall towns in the middle of opengreen plains with roaming cattle, golden wheat fields, yellow canola fields androcked buttes. With fentanyl increasingly tainting more drugs, each relapse became potentially more deadly. Rhonda Packineau wears a necklace with daughter Cheyenne Packineau's initials as she visits her grave in the Parshall, North Dakota, Meadows Cemetery. meth and marijuana, class A and B felonies that carry a combined Court . Ajudge is scheduled to sentence him in January. Many of those recovering at the center were arrested by Dawn White, who nudged them into treatment. Sheriff John Foss says the meth has a street value of about $40,000. "I knew people in Minot who wanted pills and I knew people in Michigan who could get them," Wakefieldlater told investigators, according to court records. "Theres more cases out there, more dealers out there who are probably worse than him.". She was arrested after police executed a search warrant at her storage unit in Mandan. There was a problem saving your notification. All rights reserved. different process than that used in North Dakota, Burleigh County WEST FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - Two men are in the Cass County Jail after a drug investigation uncovered more than nine pounds of methamphetamine at a West Fargo motel. SISSETON, S.D. Some suspects are from North Dakota and some are from out of state. Charges announced in large drug operation on Native American reservations in ND Investigators are calling it "Operation Blue Prairie" January 7, 2021 Raya Quttaineh NORTH DAKOTA Twenty. The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is currently operating at 40% capacity, he said. FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - 26 people have been indicted in what North Dakota U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley calls an unprecedented drug trafficking bust on three Native American reservations. quantities and sold the drugs to "street-level dealers" for "Let us have her in death.". Cheyenne's fatherpulled her from thedrug house. It's hard for police toquantify the scope of the Detroit pipeline to the reservation and North Dakota, which remains fluid. Acting on a tip Friday, law. Wilton High School senior Jordyn Thorsonis this week's MDU Resources Teen of the Week. The defendants named in the indictments have by Wrigleys estimate allegedly moved $2.5 million in pills. Aconvicted felon by age 17, he movedfrom Detroit to Minot with relatives and spotted a business opportunity a decade ago. The biggest problem were experiencing is the Detroit connection, Detroit gangs. said. She fields calls from tipsters and worried parents even on days off. Drug bust in West Fargo (West Fargo Police Department) By Valley News Live - Staff Published: Dec. 28, 2021 at 11:28 AM PST WEST FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - Two men are in the Cass. Read More. End of the Rope News / Apr 21, 2023 / 04:53 PM CDT. Eight people have entered guilty pleas, and charges against more people are likely, Wrigley said. Dawn Whitehas attended several funerals of loved ones lost todrugs, includingacousinconsidered a little sister. "I don't think it's about love. Schuylkill County Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses. It's a19-hour drivefrom Detroit to New Town. Lifesaving: Family flees Texas to transgender 'refuge' Minnesota, Bipartisan Senate bill aims to keep kids under 13 off social media, Camillas 18 year journey to Queen Consort. home. On the reservation, traffickers can get $80-$100. Copyright 2021 KFYR. Drug traffickers coming to North Dakota from Detroit bypass the bigger cities along the way, but its a simple business decision for them, Wrigley said. The 6-foot-2 basketball standouts left forearm displayed Kasten, the name of her 1-year-old son, inked in black Old English font. cops@ndonline.com. Please subscribe to keep reading. About $80,000 worth of meth and marijuana was seized in what law MANDAN, N.D.A Mandan woman accused of possessing more than $1 million in illegal drugs with intent to sell will face trial in May. Sawyer and Collins are held on $50,000 cash bonds. The biggest problem were experiencing is the Detroit connection, Detroit gangs, Bismarck Police Deputy Chief Randy Zieglersaid, blaming that pipeline for 70% of the city's counterfeit pills containing deadly fentanyl. Drug Bust Toggle header content. Share this story. All 26 defendants have been charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, while others also face weapons and money laundering charges. December 2, 2021 TJ Nelson ST. MICHAEL, N.D. (KVRR) A drug bust at Spirit Lake Casino south of Devils Lake. "He had some money, flashed it in Michigan," White said. The other markets are saturated, he said. by: Lauren Davis. Wrigley says those indicted targeted and preyed on low-level dealers across Indian Country in North Dakota. The same pill could sell for $70 or $80 in North Dakota. Press Release. It started with a few Michigan menwho were visiting the remote area and saw an opportunity: fewer police, fewer armed competitors and rampant addiction generating plenty of customers ready to spend royalty money from the state's oil boom. Her slight smile hides an inner fierceness. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Drug task force makes six-figure bust in Minot, Burgum signs bill to reform state pension plan, Horse set to compete in Kentucky Derby euthanized after severe injury, Williston man found guilty of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, Air Force could return to Williston this year for mosquito spraying, Williston teachers ratify new agreement with school board, Changing of the Guard at Tomb of the Uknown Soldier a highlight for ND veterans, KFYR - First News at Ten - Sportscast 4/30/2023, Closed Caption Inquiries - (701) 255-5757. Barth is being held in the Burleigh County jail on a $150,000 38-year old David Verner, 57-year-old Vincent Verner, and 38-year, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA (KFGO) A Fargo man is one of four people arrested in separate, large drug busts along I-80 east of North Platte, Nebraska. Causes, Symptoms & Treatments, Bill to close North Dakota public employees' pension plan goes to Burgum, North Dakota Gov. Police arrested 24-year-old Kaylee Helgeson after Detective Bret Witte and K9 Kilo conducted a search on a row of garages in the 1800 Block of 39 Street South. Feland said the men arrested represent three levels of the drug Law enforcement didn't find anyone at the Oliver County But then she startingwithdrawing from him and the rest of her family. Wrigley says the investigation, called Operation Blue Prairie, has been going on for a few years and deals with very significant oxycodone dealers based out of Detroit, Michigan. Policesearched his Bismarck hotel in January, finding fentanyl pillsdesigned to look likeoxycodone, court records show. I want to commend all of the law enforcement personnel involved with case who worked tirelessly to bring these men to justice.. On Wednesday, December 8, 2021 the bust came after a tip that a drug courier was at a West Fargo hotel. But for dealers, it's a drive worth making. White is haunted by all the losses in her community, andprefers to stay away from the funerals: "Thats somebody you didnt get to save.". . An officer responded to a high-dollar theft at Dunham Sports on Monday. Reporter Beth Warren: bwarren@courier-journal.com; 502-582-7164; Twitter @BethWarrenCJ. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Barry Christopher Brown Jr., 28, known as "Big Splash,"of Taylor, Michigan, was indicted by a federal grand jury in February on drug trafficking charges. Baquan and Darius Sledge, brothers, face Criminal Continuing Enterprise charges which carry a mandatory sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Published: Feb. 25, 2021 at 11:16 AM PST RAPID CITY, S.D. from Washington for others - like Barth - who broke down the large In the past few years, DEA agents say the danger has intensified as traffickers began cuttingdrugs with the opioid fentanyl, America's most potent killer and the drug that took Cheyenne's life. "It was a heartbreaking moment," White said. Is she short or tall?" included a search of the farmstead. According to a press release, a Minot Police officer observed Joshua Brydon, 41, driving a vehicle without license plates. Bismarck Police Lt. Bob Haas said they received It's not just a personal use crime any longer." Hemmah and Groves were charged with intent to deliver a controlled. coming.". Im Arikara," she said, referring to her native tribe. Published: Sep. 29, 2021 at 3:12 PM PDT MINOT, N.D. - A task force drug seizure in Minot Tuesday morning removed more than half a million dollars' worth of narcotics off the streets, and landed. BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - The Northwest Narcotics Task Force and the Williston Police Department have arrested a Williston woman for possession of various types of drugs. Anyone struggling with addiction can find help through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's national helpline, 1-800-662-HELP. "What does she look like? They identified a possible suspect, Maynor L. Calix-Lopez and another man whose identity was unknown. an amount about the size of a thumbnail. Fellow officers dubbed her the "Rainman of Narcotics" because she closely studies the suspects and their associates and doesn't forget a name or face. of methamphetamine with a street value of roughly $300,000, and roughly 170 grams of fentanyl, with a street value of around $350,000. Whoever she was with, possibly the person who brought her thefatal dose,emptiedher black makeup bag and took her purple Michael Korspurse and left. The large quantity of meth still in the "rock" form was an Police said two others face lesser charges in connection with the case. "You have to work up the food chain before they know you're Several members of the Michigan. "She really did try," Packineau said, nearly whispering as she knelt beside the grave. A locked padlock Law enforcement seize thousands of fentanyl pills, $40,000 in cash in Tuesday drug busts, Burgum signs bill to reform state pension plan, Horse set to compete in Kentucky Derby euthanized after severe injury, Williston man found guilty of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, Air Force could return to Williston this year for mosquito spraying, Williston teachers ratify new agreement with school board, Changing of the Guard at Tomb of the Uknown Soldier a highlight for ND veterans, KFYR - First News at Ten - Sportscast 4/30/2023, Closed Caption Inquiries - (701) 255-5757. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Securities commissioner issues order against eastern North Dakota men, What Is Meth Mouth? Feland said meth usually is sold on the street in "8-balls," or "It was like getting pieces to a big puzzle, and She's seenmore and morefentanyl-laced pills, with dealers who supply the reservation also setting up hubs in the closest cities across North Dakota:Bismarck, Minot and Williston. You have permission to edit this article. The most meth seized in a local raid occurred in October 2000 Legislative Session Ends With Passage of Nearly $20 Billion Budget. Earlier this year, The Courier Journal reported how the shooting of a Louisville police detective was linked to a large drug ring with Detroit ties. ajohnson@minotdailynews.com. The multiagency operation comprised of investigators from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Fargo Police Department, West Fargo Police Department, Moorhead Police Department, Cass County Sheriffs Office, and Clay County Sheriffs Office. Ten people in three different states have been charged in relation to a bust of what federal investigators allege was a local drug trafficking ring that transported . "With drug investigations, time is of the essence," Feland said. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Copyright 2022 KFYR. A small-town police department has been known for their huge drug busts, and now they have an extra helper. National North Dakota Day Miscellaneous / 4 days ago. North Dakota's U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley says it's a step in the right direction. "Lots of money, lots of cash.". Agents with the Southwest Narcotics Task Force were. Wakefield, who grew up in a rough area of Detroit and began his life of crime as a teen,was seen near the town of White Shield with an associate, a Native American womanwilling to sell drugs to feed her addiction. COVID: Where are we now? DEA will continue to root out the bad actors responsible for terrorizing our Native American communities through drug trafficking., Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. The "Detroit-based guys came over and dated native women, living with them so they have a foothold and a reason to be on the res," she said. Sep 10, 2021 / 01:39 PM CDT. She'sunresponsive.". News. Great American Bike Race News / Apr 21, 2023 / 06:32 PM CDT. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A multiyear anti-drug effort that aimed to cut off the supply of narcotics being funneled into North Dakota's American Indian reservations has produced an indictment that accuses 26 people,. pounds of marijuana, along with a handgun and paraphernalia used to indication that the drug was made outside the state using a In 2011, at the age of 22, hebuilt his first North Dakota drug network. Along with the increasingenforcement,the tribe built a residential recovery center in Bismarck in 2018. But DEA reports show that the majority of fentanyl in the U.S. is coming from two cartels: Sinaloa, once headed by infamous boss "El Chapo," and the ruthless Crtel Jalisco Nueva Generacin or CJNG, based in Guadalajara. All rights reserved. cash bond and Guitron-Vargas on a $100,000 cash bond. Cheyenne and hundreds of other Native Americansin North Dakota have been ensnaredby Detroittraffickers, who set up a drug pipeline more than a decade ago targetingNorth Dakota cities and reservations, according to tribal police and a supervisor withthe U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This year has already surpassed that, with 81 overdoses and 10 deaths by mid-August. Each deathrattlesthe reservation, where many people are related andthe sense of community is strong. Native Americans suffering from the brain disease of addiction can consultthe federal Indian Health Service's. Detectives found 234 hits of LSD, marijuana wax, THC Vape Cartridges, $3,600 in cash, and a .45 Caliber rifle. Names and photos of those who are banishedare posted on social media sites and tribal websites. All rights reserved. Court records indicate Berg had an initial appearance scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Drug Bust. On. By 2012, he had a solid customer basebut was back behind bars in 2013 after he was caught dealing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school in Minot.