29 people have been arrested as part of a drug ring that brought methamphetamine and other drugfs from California to the Bakken region.
22 were arrested in Minot, and 7 were arrested in Bakersfield, California.
Those arrested in North Dakota:
Terrance Darshay Lynn Peterson, a/k/a Turtle, 42, Minot, ND
Victor Murillo, a/k/a Vic, 32, Bakersfield, CA
Debra Meladore Davis, 49, Minot, ND
Bryan Keith Davis, 48, Minot, ND
Regina Rose Lehman, 43, Minot, ND
Michael John Gietl, 43, (currently in federal custody)
Robert Raymond Althaus, 44, Minot, ND
Peggy Lee St. Claire, 53, Minot, ND
Jade Marie Backman, 33, Minot, ND
Jody Lee Deharty, 25, Minot, ND
Ricky Dean Strahan, 56, Minot, ND
Gerald Wayne Osby Jr., 22, Minot, ND
James Alex Locklear, 27, Minot, ND
Alyssa Jo Schlienz, 21, Minot, ND
Audra Dezzari Harris, 39, Minot, ND
Gilbert Eugene Graim, Jr., 21, Bakersfield, CA
Teoshalashanae M. Songcuan, 24, Bakersfield, CA
Deandre Trayvon Peterson, 24, Minot, ND
Jimmy Dale Price, 42, Minot, ND
Miranda Leigh Grant, 30, Minot, ND
Rodney Lee Jackson, 49, Carson, CA
Those arrested in Bakersfield:
Ricardo Cruz Gomez, 23, Bakersfield, CA
Marquiz Demitric Tucker, 44, Bakersfield, CA
Labrea Leshawn Davis, 29, Bakersfield, CA
Robin Lee, 25, Bakersfield, CA
Nina Johnson, 35, Bakersfield, CA
Michael Muniz, 43, Bakersfield, CA
Ruben Valdez, Jr., 37, Bakersfield, CA
Federal and state authorities say this is part of “Operation Western Edge.” And the Bakken Organized Crime Strike Force – which involves federal, state and local law enforcement – is a part of that effort.
"Our goal two and a half years ago was to disrupt and dismantle a criminal organization that was involved in wide-spread drug distribution and other violent behavior," FBI Special Agent In Charge Richard Thornton told Bismarck reporters. "With these indictments and arrests, I think we took a major step forward in realizing that goal."
"What we're trying to do is to send the message to those criminal organizations that might come into North dakota and think that it's easy pickings," said acting North Dakota US Attorney Chris Myers. "It's not going to be."
Myers says the investigation is continuing.
