Mendota Heights Man Indicted for Distributing Methamphetamine
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 27, 2012 |
MINNEAPOLIS—A recently filed federal indictment charges a 42-year-old Mendota Heights man with allegedly distributing more than 110 grams of methamphetamine. On April 16, 2012, Joseph Benjamin Thomas was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of five or more grams of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine. On April 25, 2012, Thomas had his initial appearance in federal court.
The indictment alleges that from February 1 to April 16, 2012, Thomas possessed with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine. In addition, the indictment alleges that Thomas distributed five or more grams of methamphetamine on February 15 and February 29, 2012. On March 13, 2012, Thomas allegedly distributed 50 or more grams of methamphetamine.
If convicted, Thomas faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison on the charges of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, as well as a potential maximum penalty of 40 years on each count of distribution of five or more grams of the drug. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the University of Minnesota Police Department; the Minneapolis Police Department; the St. Paul Police Department; the Fairmont Police Department; and the Minnesota Department of Corrections. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter.
An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.