900 Pounds of Meth: Guilty Plea in Historic Minnesota Bust
Minneapolis, MN (MinnesotaNow) - A Mexican man indicted on charges stemming from one of the largest drug busts in state history has pleaded guilty.
The Office of the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota today announced that 45-year-old Guillermo Mercado-Chaparro has admitted to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal reentry into the United States after deportation.
Started With 1 Pound Sale to Undercover Officer
According to court documents, Mercado-Chaparro was accused of selling a pound of methamphetamine to an undercover police officer in the Twin Cities. Following the controlled buy, police investigators followed him and witnessed him conducting other drug deals in Minneapolis.
Massive Methamphetamine Seizure
Federal prosecutors say that several days later, police observed Mercado-Chaparro retrieving two large garbage bags from his pickup truck and placing them in a Jeep that was pulled over by police a short time later. Court documents say the resulting search of the vehicle led to the seizure of approximately 250 pounds of methamphetamine.
The discovery led to the execution of a search warrant on his pickup truck, where investigators found an additional 630 pounds of methamphetamine in the truck bed.
Cartel-Scale Operation
Shortly after Mercado-Chaparro was indicted in the case, then-acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson stated, "This isn't just another drug bust. It's one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in Minnesota. A 900-pound haul like this doesn't just show intent to distribute. It shows intent to poison entire communities. We will not let Minnesota become a distribution hub for cartel-scale operations."
The case was investigated by the Minnesota Homeland Security Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Ramsey County Crime Enforcement Team, the St. Paul Police Department, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force.
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