FARGO (KFGO) – A man prosecutors say is connected to a large-scale drug distribution case filed earlier this month appeared in federal district court for a detention hearing.
Judge Alice R. Senechal ruled that Victor Manuel Partida-Ojeda should remain in custody until his hearing because of the charges and evidence against him, his history of giving law enforcement false information, and a recent attempt to escape from the Rolette County Jail.
Victor Manuel Partida-Ojeda, who is being held at the Ward County Jail in Minot, is accused of being a driver who ran drugs for Jessica Trottier in exchange for cash and guns.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is accusing Partida-Ojeda of receiving the guns, ammo, and explosives from Jessica Trottier in exchange for running drugs between California and North Dakota.
Trottier is the lead defendant in the methamphetamine trafficking and conspiracy case. She is accused of paying other defendants in cash and guns, as well as buying cars and registering them in her name in order to run the drugs.
40 pounds of meth have been seized through the course of the investigation, but based on intercepted calls, prosecutors believe there could have been hundreds of pounds trafficked in the conspiracy.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Stock said Partida-Ojeda was arrested in Belcourt in July of 2022 with three guns – two of which had the serial numbers scratched off, two silencers with no serial numbers, several hundred rounds of ammunition, and 1 oz. of silver azide explosive. Stock said they believe Partida-Ojeda was on his way back to California where he claims he has lived for the past 20 years as a farm laborer.
When Partida-Ojeda was stopped, he initially told law enforcement his name was Pruenda Macias – another defendant. He eventually admitted he had been in the U.S. illegally for the past 1-2 years. He has an active immigration hold and two warrants for his arrest in California as well.
The vehicle Partida-Ojeda was driving was eventually traced back to Trottier. He was also found with keys to a U-Haul rented by Macias.
Five days before Partida-Ojeda’s arrest, he and Macias were allegedly seen with the vehicle and another defendant, Carlos Batista. The three of them were allegedly on the way to see another defendant, Justin Keplin. They were staying at a hotel room in the Sky Dancer Casino which is believed to have been rented by Macias, where law enforcement said they found user amounts of fentanyl and meth.
After Partida-Ojeda’s arrest, Keplin reported the car stolen and lied about where he got it.
Stock said calls were again intercepted between Trottier and others after Partida-Ojeda was arrested. Stock said Trottier knew about the stop, knew Prueda and Batista were with Partida-Ojeda on the trip, and during the call, it was acknowledged that the car came from Trottier.
On Sept. 1, Batista and Macias were arrested, allegedly with 4 lbs of meth, fentanyl, 9 lbs of mariijuana, and a list of drugs they were bringing to Keplin.
Compounding the evidence to keep Partida-Ojeda in custody was his attempted escape through the ceiling of the Rolette County Jail. He is allegedly also a suspect in California murder investigation.
Defense attorney Erich Grant argued Partida-Ojeda could live with relatives in Planada, Ca. where he has been a farm laborer for 20 years while he waits for trial.
Stock argued that, because of Partida-Ojeda’s arrest with firearms missing serial numbers, his immigration status, escape attempt, and suspicion of his involvement in the meth conspiracy, he should remain in custody.