NORTH DAKOTA
A strike force investigation resulted in the indictment of 29 defendants for drug-related offenses in North Dakota and Bakersfield, California, according to authorities.
The indictments are a result of Operation Western Edge, an investigation into the trafficking of methamphetamine and heroin from Bakersfield to the Bakken region.
“The strike force was designed to work as one unit to identify, target and dismantle criminal organizations working in the Bakken, and reach beyond the borders of North Dakota to ensure the entire criminal organization is brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher Myers. “After only a few months we are seeing the efficiency, strength and extended reach provided by the strike force model. The results here are exactly what we hoped for when we designed the strike force.”
Defendants indicted in North Dakota:
Ronnie Ray Taylor, 43, of Bakersfield;
Terrance Darshay Lynn Peterson, aka Turtle, 42, of Minot, North Dakota;
Victor Murillo, aka Vic, 32, of Bakersfield;
Debra Meladore Davis, 49, of Minot;
Bryan Keith Davis, 48, of Minot;
Regina Rose Lehman, 43, of Minot;
Michael John Gietl, 43, in federal custody;
Robert Raymond Althaus, 44, of Minot;
Peggy Lee St. Claire, 53, of Minot;
Jade Marie Backman, 33, of Minot;
Jody Lee Deharty, 25, of Minot;
Ricky Dean Strahan, 56, of Minot;
Gerald Wayne Osby Jr., 22, of Minot;
James Alex Locklear, 27, of Minot;
Alyssa Jo Schlienz, 21, of Minot;
Audra Dezzari Harris, 39, of Minot;
Gilbert Eugene Graim Jr., 21, of Bakersfield;
Teoshalashanae M. Songcuan, 24, of Bakersfield;
Deandre Trayvon Peterson, 24, of Minot;
Jimmy Dale Price, 42, of Minot;
Miranda Leigh Grant, 30, of Minot; and
Rodney Lee Jackson, 49, Carson, California.
Defendants Indicted in the Eastern District of California:
Ricardo Cruz Gomez, 23, of Bakersfield;
Marquiz Demitric Tucker, 44, of Bakersfield;
Labrea Leshawn Davis, 29, of Bakersfield;
Robin Lee, 25, of Bakersfield;
Nina Johnson, 35, of Bakersfield;
Michael Muniz, 43, of Bakersfield; and
Ruben Valdez Jr., 37, of Bakersfield.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Bakersfield Police Department, the Minot Police Department, the Ward County, North Dakota, Sheriff’s Office, the Ward County Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Metro Area Narcotics Task Force, the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the U.S. Border Patrol, officials said.