Mexican Cartels Pumped Industrial Quantities Of Drugs Into MN: Feds

MINNEAPOLIS — Thirteen people are in custody facing federal charges in connection with a Mexican drug cartel operation that sent meth, cocaine, and fentanyl in the Twin Cities metro area.

"Every year, thousands of Minnesotans die from illicit drugs trafficked into our communities, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other synthetic opioids," said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger Tuesday.

The indictment "disrupts one of the most sophisticated and significant drug trafficking organizations we have prosecuted in my tenure as U.S. Attorney, and I am grateful to the DEA and FBI for their hard work bringing this operation to justice."

Luger also recognized the Mexican authorities for their assistance on the case.

On Jan. 4, 2019, Clinton James Ward was arrested in the parking lot of a motel in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota with more than eight pounds of methamphetamine, according to police.

At the time, Ward was selling methamphetamine from his hotel room to various customers, authorities said.

Weeks after his arrest, Ward fled to Jalisco, Mexico, where he met up with Mexican and American drug traffickers who all had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, according to prosecutors.

From January 2019 until he was apprehended in March 2024, Ward established and operated his own cartel-sourced Mexican-based drug trafficking organization that distributed thousands of pounds of methamphetamine to Minnesota through a network of drug traffickers, investigators said.

Ward used an existing Mexican cartel pipeline to transport large drug loads, concealing shipments in semi-trailers that crossed the U.S. border at various locations, according to authorities.

The shipments were later broken down into smaller quantities and transported into Minnesota via private vehicles and semi-trailers, prosecutors said.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement reported seizing more than 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine, four kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of fentanyl, 30,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, 45 firearms, and more than $2.5 million in drug proceeds.

On March 11, 2024, Ward was arrested by Mexican authorities. He was returned to the U.S. and charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine.

Authorities Tuesday also named 12 members and associates of the Ward drug trafficking organization who are in custody and have been charged in a federal superseding indictment:

Shawnette Lynn Andreasen, 46, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

Jonathon Beau Bailey, 33, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Vin Chanry, 37, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Perry John Coyle, 65, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

James Joseph Graczyk, 51, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

Benjamin DeWayne Johnson, 40, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

Joseph Allen Pappenfus, 41, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Breezie Lynn Pena, 46, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

Aaron Michael Teadt, 47, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

Jimmy Thithavong, 38, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

Peter Charles Watkins, 45, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

Nicole Marie Williams, 41, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.