2 indicted for distributing marijuana
Two men were indicted earlier this week in federal court in connection with a Twin Cities marijuana distribution operation.
Jorge Marques-Apodaca, 26, Bloomington, was charged June 9 in Minneapolis with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Astolfo Garcia-Gonzalez, 24, unknown address, was charged June 9 with one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises.
Their indictment alleges that from November 2007 to June 2008 Marques-Apodaca knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 100 or more kilograms of marijuana. The indictment also alleges that on Jan. 22, 2006, Marques-Apodaca knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana.
Garcia-Gonzales is alleged in the indictment to have knowingly and intentionally rented, leased and made available for the purpose of unlawfully storing marijuana a place located in the 15100 block of Cates Lake Drive in Savage. This stash house was allegedly used from Jan. 22, 2006, to Jan. 23, 2006.
According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit, Marques-Apodaca had been under investigation for six months, and had arranged a “controlled buy” from him on May 14, 2008. Police observed a vehicle that left Marques-Apodaca’s Bloomington residence and traveled to a townhouse located on Cates Lake Drive in Savage.
The vehicle left the townhouse and returned to the Bloomington residence. Marques- Apodaca was later entering the vehicle, drove away and was observed driving to the area of 36th Avenue and Clinton Avenue S.
Police stopped the vehicle on a traffic stop, and during a search of the vehicle police found six bricks of marijuana in the trunk. Each brick weighed approximately 2 pounds. During an executed search warrant of the Savage townhouse, police seized approximately 200 pounds of marijuana, according to the affidavit.
If convicted, Marques-Apodaca faces a potential maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on the conspiracy count and five years on the possession count. Garcia-Gonzalez faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years. All sentences are determined by a federal district court judge.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the police departments of Bloomington, Minneapolis and Savage, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Steinkamp.
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An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by the defendant. The defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.