Diana E. Murphy federal courthouse is shown in Minneapolis Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
MINNEAPOLIS (KFGO) — A federal judge has sentenced three Otter Tail County men and two others for their roles in a large-scale drug trafficking ring.
Robert Anderson, 40, Bill Rude, 63, both from Wadena, along with Aaron Thomas, 30, from Clitherall, Minnesota, Carlos Valdovinos-Trejo, 39, and Jesus Valdovinos, 44, distributed large quantities of meth and cocaine in Minnesota.
Federal prosecutors say police responded to an overdose death in Wadena County in November 2023. Rude was identified as the deceased person’s meth dealer. Investigators learned Anderson was supplied by Valdovinos-Trejo and Valdovinos, and distributed the drugs to a number of smaller dealers, including Rude and Heifort.
In late 2023 and early 2024, federal and local law enforcement sized 2.6 kilos of meth and 29 grams of cocaine from Wadena-based dealers, including Rude, Heifot, and Anderson. In January and February of 2024, officers purchased drugs from Valdovinos-Trejo and Valdovinos in controlled buys. In early February 2024, law enforcement raided two residences involved in the trafficking ring. Large amounts of drugs were seized, including 5.2 kilos of meth, 1.1 kilos of heroin, and 1.3 kilos of cocaine.
Anderson has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. Heifort and Rude were sentenced to about 10 years in prison each. Valdovinos-Trejo will spend 7 years in prison, and Valdovinos will serve 5 years.
The case was investigated by a cooperation of state and federal law enforcement, including the Otter Tail and Wadena sheriff offices, West Central Drug Task Force, Minnesota BCA, Minnesota State Patrol, and the DEA.
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