A federal jury has found two individuals guilty in a major methamphetamine trafficking case in Moorhead, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. The jury convicted the defendants for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
The evidence presented at trial painted a vivid picture of a calculated drug trafficking scheme. On February 22, 2024, a K9 unit's alert led to a search warrant for a suspicious package intercepted in North Dakota. Inside, law enforcement discovered over nine pounds of methamphetamine. Going a step further, officers removed most of the drugs, planted a GPS tracker inside, and managed to successfully deliver the package back to its intended address in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick highlighted the persistence of transnational criminal organizations in funneling illegal drugs into Minnesota. She stated, "Transnational criminal organizations continue to pour methamphetamine into Minnesota by various means, including by mail." She also emphasized the collaborative effort to combat this issue: "As this case demonstrates, this office, working hand in glove with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue to dedicate resources to stop the flow of methamphetamine into our state."
According to the prosecution's case, the defendants included 58-year-old Alberto St. Martin Lopez, Jr., who was observed retrieving the package and later dividing its contents. Terri Lee Weideman, 46, an employee at a Fargo property management company, had allegedly been providing the conspiracy with the addresses of vacant rental units since at least April 2023, thereby aiding the distribution operation.
The investigation, which culminated in the seizure of 12 pounds of methamphetamine on February 23, 2023, marked the largest combined seizure of the drug in Clay County's history. The multi-agency operation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Moorhead Police Department, with assistance from other supporting agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren O. Roso and Allen A. Slaughter Jr. prosecuted the case, resulting in the recent convictions.
