Cartel-linked Minnesotan, 14 others charged in Mexican drug trafficking

A Minnesota man and more than a dozen accomplices have been charged with smuggling more than 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine and other drugs from Mexico to Minnesota in what U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger described as a “sprawling” Mexican drug trafficking organization.

Luger made his comments during a press conference on Tuesday, in which he named Clinton James Ward, 45, as leader of the organization that has been active for years.

Ward is originally from Minnesota and has been a drug dealer for years. In 2019, he fled the state to Mexico, where he established contacts with the violent Sinaloa and CJNG drug cartels and started his own drug trafficking organization.

Corresponding press releases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported that Ward was arrested in January 2019 in the parking lot of a motel in Vadnais Heights, Minn., with more than eight pounds of methamphetamine. At the time, Ward was selling methamphetamine from his hotel room to several customers. Within weeks of his arrest, Ward fled to Jalisco, Mexico, where he met up with Mexican and American drug traffickers, all with ties to the Sinaloa and CJNG cartels.

From January 2019 until his arrest in March 2024, Ward operated his own Mexican drug trafficking organization, which distributed thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine to Minnesota through a network of drug traffickers. Using an existing cartel pipeline, Ward transported large drug shipments into the United States through a variety of means, including hiding shipments in semi-trailers that crossed the border at various locations. The shipments were later broken up into smaller quantities and transported to Minnesota via private vehicles and semi-trailers.

Over the course of the investigation, more than 50 suspects with connections to Ward have been charged with methamphetamine trafficking and other drug trafficking offenses. In total, police seized more than 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine, four kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of fentanyl, 30,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, 45 firearms, and more than $2.5 million in drug proceeds.

On March 11, 2024, Ward was captured by Mexican authorities and returned to the United States to face prosecution.

Luger described Ward as being charged under a law known as the “kingpin” statute, which carries a minimum prison sentence of 20 years if found guilty.

The following 15 members and associates of the Ward drug trafficking organization are in custody and have been charged in a federal indictment:

• Clinton James Ward, 45, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Shawnette Lynn Andreasen, 46, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
• Jonathon Beau Bailey (not pictured), 33, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
• Vin Chanry, 37, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Perry John Coyle (not pictured), 65, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
• James Joseph Graczyk, 51, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
• Benjamin DeWayne Johnson (not pictured), 40, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
• Joseph Allen Pappenfus, 41, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Breezie Lynn Pena, 46, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Aaron Michael Teadt, 47, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Jimmy Thithavong, 38, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Peter Charles Watkins (not pictured), 45, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Nicole Marie Williams (not pictured), 41, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Armondo Robert Montero (not pictured) is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Kevin Philip Del Rios Havenar (not pictured) is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine

“Every year, thousands of Minnesotans die from illegal drugs that enter our communities, including methamphetamine, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “Today’s indictment disrupts one of the most sophisticated and significant drug trafficking organizations we have prosecuted during my tenure as U.S. Attorney, and I am grateful to the DEA and FBI for their hard work in bringing this operation to justice. The Department of Justice would also like to thank Mexican authorities for their assistance in this case.”

All defendants made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court, presided over by Judge John F. Docherty.

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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, information and commentary about crime, public safety and quality of life in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.

Crime Watch MN

Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, information and commentary about crime, public safety and quality of life in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.