Feds indict 24 people in drug conspiracy

FARGO — A case that began five years ago with a drug seizure in Fargo has led to charges against 24 people accused in a conspiracy to distribute drugs from the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation.

Authorities said Thursday that large amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana were moved from Washington, California and Mexico to the reservation for distribution elsewhere.

The case is known as Operation Paint By Numbers.

The alleged leader of the operation, Miguel Chavez, is from eastern Washington. He faces charges that include continuing criminal enterprise, which “has very grave implications for him if he is convicted,” U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said. Chavez has not appeared in court.

Most of the defendants are from North Dakota or have ties to the area, prosecutors said. One of them is a fugitive in Mexico.

Wrigley said the investigation began in 2002, with the seizure of 4 pounds of meth in Fargo. More arrests are expected, he said.

“I’m anticipating the very real possibility of defendants cooperating,” Wrigley said. “Once that happens in the relatively small community like that, we expect great gains to be made beyond an already large indictment and large investigation.”

Seven men and two women pleaded not guilty to charges Thursday afternoon.

The name for the investigation stems from information that was gained from analyzing telephone calls, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Myers said.

“From that and other records, they were able to put together and paint the picture with those numbers as to the framework of the organization,” Myers said of investigators. “From there, they worked it historically over the last two and a half years to get to the point where we’re at now.”

Earlier Thursday, the last major figure was sentenced in a drug conspiracy known as Operation Speed Racer, which indicted 66 people. It is believed to be the largest federal drug case in North Dakota.

“I remember we were talking about Speed Racer when we were at 20 defendants, then 30, then 50, and on up the chain,” Wrigley said. “You just never know with Paint By Numbers. This is an active investigation.”

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