A North Dakota man who was found guilty on July 28 for conspiracy to distribute drugs that resulted in injury or death received 12 years in prison. According to reports, the 53-year-old man was accused of bringing over 33 pounds of methamphetamine into the state. The methamphetamine was allegedly linked to two deaths caused by overdose. The man who was sentenced was just one of several individuals who were indicted in 2013. The man and a second person were both charged for the death of the man’s 59-year-old girlfriend on Feb. 6, 2013.
The second defendant, a 50-year-old man, also faced separate charges for the death a 39-year-old man who died on Dec. 20, 2012. Reports indicate that he admitted guilt to the drug conspiracy charge on July 10, though his sentencing was set to take place in October.
The 50-year-old man stated that he would fly to California and then drive trucks back to North Dakota for a trucking company while hiding methamphetamine in his personal bag. The investigators ultimately executed a search warrant at a farm that belonged to one of the defendants. All of the other defendants who were involved in the case have reportedly already pleaded guilty to the charges or have reached plea agreements.
Those who are facing charges for drug trafficking may also be facing serious consequences that can include a lengthy prison sentence, extensive fines or probation. An attorney may be able to help their client with a strong defense by either providing evidence that their client was not involved in the drug trafficking scheme or that they unknowingly played a part in the alleged trafficking. Otherwise, they may be able to show that the substances were illegally seized.
Source: WDAY, “Mandan man sentenced in meth conspiracy linked to 2 deaths“, Mike Nowatzki, July 29, 2014