Meth

Wahpeton Man Makes Plea in Meth Bust Case

Two handguns and an assault rifle were also seized during the raid

WAHPETON, ND — A Wahpeton man arrested in one of the largest methamphetamine cases ever in North Dakota has pleads not guilty. Twenty-nine-year-old Louis Dauphinais was arrested in late March after a search of a mobile home by officers with a drug task force. The force allegedly found 13 pounds of meth worth a street value of more than one million…

Las Vegas Stripper Convicted in North Dakota Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced

Toelle pleaded guilty in January to being the leader of a drug-trafficking ring that involved her children and friends from 2009 to 2016

  NORTH DAKOTA — A former Las Vegas stripper who ran a drug trafficking ring that stretched from Washington to North Dakota has been sentenced. Loren Toelle was given more than 17 years in prison. The 52-year-old was also sentenced to five years of probation. Toelle pleaded guilty in January to being the leader of a drug-trafficking ring that involved…

Accused Oil Patch Drug Dealer Reaches Plea Agreement

He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years

  BISMARCK, ND — A man accused of dealing large quantities of drugs in the oil patch has reached a plea agreement. The deal calls for 55-year-old Zachary Smith, known as “Old School”, to plead guilty to two counts, including a conspiracy charge. Authorities say Smith was part of an operation that in 2015 and 2016 moved meth and heroin…

Man Convicted in Area Meth Bust Loses Bid for Shorter Sentence

The appeals court panel says Cossette has a violent criminal history and poses a danger to the community

  CASS COUNTY, N.D. — A man charged in a conspiracy to sell meth in the metro has lost his bid for a shorter prison term. Marc Cossette was sentenced to 27 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in 2013. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals says U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson of Fargo did not abuse his…

Man Jailed After Major Meth Bust in Wahpeton

Street Value Estimated at Over $1 Million

A man has been arrested in Wahpeton after authorities uncovered 13 pounds of meth worth over $1 million on the streets. Louis Douphinais, 29, was arrested in a mobile home at 2104 2nd Street North in Wahpeton on Friday. In addition to the meth, drug task force agents found drug paraphernalia, two handguns and an AK-47. Douphinais is facing charges…

Gaarsland Arrested for Fourth Time in Under a Year

This is the second time this year Gaarsland has been arrested for possession, and the fourth time in under a year

  FARGO, N.D. — The widow of a man beaten to death in a brawl outside a Main Avenue Fargo bar has been arrested again. Laura Gaarsland, the widow of Joey Gaarsland, is charged with felony possession of meth and drug paraphernalia. This is the second time this year Gaarsland has been arrested for possession, and the fourth time in…

Record Amount of Meth Seized by Minnesota Law Enforcement in 2016

Prescription pill seizures, including opioids, increased 231 percent in 2016

  MINNESOTA — Minnesota law enforcement officers seized a record amount of meth in 2016. The Violent Crime Enforcement Teams seized 488 pounds of meth, a nearly 500 percent increase from 2009 when meth seizures were at their lowest level. Officials say meth continues to flow into Minnesota, primarily from Mexico. Prescription pill seizures, including opioids, increased 231 percent in…

Two Arrested After $500,000 Meth Bust

Two people arrested after drug bust near Mandan

A half-million dollar drug bust was made near Mandan after a car was stopped for speeding early Saturday morning. A Morton County sheriff’s deputy stopped the car on I-94. The deputy and a K9 found four pounds of meth in the trunk of the rental vehicle along with drug paraphernalia. Two people were arrested and could face drug delivery and…

Rapid City Police Investigating Third Homicide of 2017; Say City is “Still Safe”

Two of the homicides involved people who knew each other, third was of a gas station worker

  Rapid City Police say they have found a connection between their three homicide investigations in only a matter of weeks. Police say there is an increase of methamphetamine use across the state and they are looking for a more assertive approach to fight the drug coming into their city. They say Rapid City, is safe but the legal system…

Woman Dies of Overdose in Front of Local Hospital

After a woman dies after being abandoned in front of a hospital while overdosing Wednesday, Fargo Police want to remind the commuity of a law meant to prevent such incidents

A woman passed away from an overdose after she was left in front of a local hospital last night and Fargo Police want to make sure that doesn’t happen again. The department is reminding people in North Dakota of a law that grants immunity to those who call in a drug overdose. If a person reports an overdose, they will…