There is less methamphetamine and other drugs on the streets in Crow Wing County after drug agents with the Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division were able to build cases against 28 people for drug sales.
LADID spent nearly eight months investigating several cases into the sale of narcotics in the county. In the end, agents conducted numerous controlled buys of narcotics, which led to a total of about 320 grams of methamphetamine, 19 grams of psilocybin mushrooms and 9 grams of heroin-worth a street value of close to $40,000-along with four firearms purchased in the case. LADID agents also worked closely with the Crow Wing County Attorney's Office to coordinate the cases involved.
"The size of this drug investigation requires a significant amount of time and dedication by our LADID agents involved," said Capt. Scott Goddard of the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office. "We believe that with the conclusion of this investigation, that it will have a significant impact of the availability and distribution of narcotics within the county."
Goddard said the 28 defendants were charged through Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd, but not all of them are in jail. They were issued court dates when they must appear. Goddard also said not all the defendants were located.
"A lot of these people are not new to us," Goddard said. "We have had many dealings with them in past years on drug-related offenses. Many of them have been convicted for drugs in the past."
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Goddard said a lot of these drug cases are built on tips and information gathered from the public. He encourages people to continue to report any suspicious activity in their area to the sheriff's office at 218-829-4749.
The 28 charged through the investigation are:
• Thomas Jeffrey Young, 45, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Chad Joseph Shaw, 53, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Michael Paul Glumac, 36, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Tate Douglas Heikkenen, 56, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Willie B. Navy, 59, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Diallo Nantombu Navy, 41, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
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• Heather Jean Virnig, 29, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Kylie Rose Ledoux, 19, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Matthew Alan Jowiski, 31, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Zachary John Grunst, 32, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Eric Christopher Jensen, 35, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Andrea Dawn Justin, 46, first-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Matthew Michael Berger, 38, second-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Tracy Ann Oddson, 36, second-degree sale of a controlled substance
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• Susan Renee Harris, 59, second-degree conspiracy to commit sale of a controlled substance
• Jacob Nicholas Whittenton, 32, second-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Larry Benjamin Berg Jr., 45, second-degree sale of a controlled substance
• David Wesley Berry Jr., 54, second-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Brian Scott Johnson, 51, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Travis John Anderson, 29, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Noah Joseph Wolfe, 32, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Wesley Scott Weous, age not provided, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
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• Sierra Christine Sam, 26, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Theoderek Dimitri Schanche, 27, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Madison Kay Auvil, 19, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Kyle Alan Aune, 26, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Dustin Wade Maaske, 39, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
• Leslie Ann Border, 34, third-degree sale of a controlled substance
