Nine People Indicted In North Dakota in International Drug Trafficking Investigation
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — An investigation into the international trafficking of meth, fentanyl, and heroin into North Dakota, Minnesota and other states results in the indictment of nine people.
United States Attorney for North Dakota Mac Schneider says the defendants have been indicted for drug trafficking and money laundering.
The ring leader and six co-conspirators have been arrested and made their initial appearances in court.
Two others remain fugitives.
26-year-old Jesus Celestin-Ortega of Florence, Colorado ran the operation out of a federal prison using a contraband cellphone.
Those indicted include:
Jesus Amurahaby Celestin-Ortega, 26, Florence, Colorado
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Money Laundering Conspiracy, Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Trinidad Torres Meraz, 58, Riverside, California
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Money Laundering Conspiracy
Edgar Hernandez, a/k/a Ivan Edgar Hernandez Vasquez, 43
Charge: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances
Maria De La Cruz Estrada Moreno, 40, El Paso, Texas
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Money Laundering Conspiracy
Jesse Rocha, 25, Denver, Colorado
Charge: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances
Rafael Bueno-Nava, 49, Fridley, Minnesota
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Money Laundering Conspiracy
Ryan James Stevens, 41, Arvada, Colorado
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances
Christan Ivan Gonzalez, 31, Phoenix, Arizona
Charge: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances
Martina Lucia Mendez, 26, Gilbert, Arizona
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances
