A Minnesota woman pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to drug trafficking in the Midwest, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in a news release.
Deanna Gerads, 33, pleaded guilty in federal court in North Dakota to participating in a major drug distribution network. according to to the Department of Justice. This network was associated with Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa cartel. The group primarily focused on supplying cocaine and methamphetamine throughout the Midwest.
A woman admits to trafficking cocaine and meth from El Chapo’s Sinaloa cartel, a vast Midwest drug ring. https://t.co/aYF8EwE0Qi
— Law and Crime (@lawcrimenews) March 28, 2024
The cartel was once led by the infamous Juan “El Chapo” Guzman and was a major player in the international drug trade. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Unfinished Business II against international traffickers of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. The news release states that Mexican Immigration and the FBI arrested Lleraz on August 1, 2023. (Related: This is 2024: El Chapo’s granddaughter is reportedly hunting the Loch Ness Monster)
After a year on the run in Mexico, authorities arrest Jerad, who was extradited to Texas, Law & Crime report. She was charged along with 11 others with distributing large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl.
This operation was a combined effort of law enforcement agencies, including the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, the FBI, and local police. Sentencing is scheduled for July 2, 2024, according to the Department of Justice, and the case marks a significant blow to the Midwest drug network and highlights the dedication of U.S. law enforcement to the fight against drug trafficking. It is something to do.
