Operation Pipe Cleaner Results in Drug Trafficking Charges Against 22 Individuals

BISMARK—U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that a total of 22 defendants have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking offenses in federal and state court as a result of Operation Pipe Cleaner.

In Bismarck, U.S Attorney Purdon said, “The arrests made today in Dickinson as a result of Operation Pipe Cleaner show that federal, state, and local law enforcement agents and prosecutors are committed to working together to fight increased organized drug distribution activity in the Bakken region. These federal and state charges are the result of a joint investigation led by FBI and North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and of close collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, and the Stark County State’s Attorney’s Office. The cooperation and collaboration by all involved in Operation Pipe Cleaner can serve as a model for future investigations aimed at dismantling drug trafficking organizations in the oil patch.”

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said, “The North Dakota Legislature recognized the need for additional resources to be devoted to fighting crime in oil-impacted counties. We are making sure these resources are targeted to make an immediate difference for North Dakota citizens.”

Special Agent in Charge Chris Warrener of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office, which includes North Dakota, said, “Those who seek to engage in criminal activities will not be permitted to act with impunity in the Bakken Oil Patch. The FBI remains committed to assisting our state and local partners in making certain that the safety and well-being of the people of western North Dakota remains a priority.”

Those charged in United States District Court, District of North Dakota:

• Shelly Anne Winner, 35, Dickinson, North Dakota, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of methamphetamine
• Travis L. Collins, 33, Dickinson, North Dakota, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of methamphetamine
• Todd O. Snyder, 48, Dickinson, North Dakota, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of methamphetamine
• Spencer Earl Rogers, 24, Dickinson, North Dakota, and Bakersfield, California, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (crack cocaine and cocaine); possession of firearms by a convicted felon; two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• Laverne Taylor, 30, Dickinson, North Dakota, and Bakersfield, California, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (crack cocaine and cocaine); two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• Jimmy Lee Stewart Jr., 39, Glen Ullin, North Dakota, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Alysia Sue Herrick, 29, Dickinson, North Dakota, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin); tampering with a witness and informant
• Jordan Robert Ward, 21, Arizona, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin)
• Jared Robert Millard, a/k/a/ Blue, 24, Dickinson, North Dakota, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin); tampering with a witness and informant
• Kyle William Stoldorf, 33, Dickinson, North Dakota, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin)
• Jeremy DeWayne Richardson, a/k/a/ Tree, 22, Dickinson, North Dakota, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin)
• Cody Allen Robinson, 25, Las Vegas, Nevada, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin)
• Steven Frazier, 35, Las Vegas, Nevada, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin)
• Todd Damien Gore, 36, Bermuda Dunes, California, possession of a firearm by convicted felon; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin)

Those charged in North Dakota District Court, Stark County:

• Mariesa Giovannetti-Calcote, 23, Minot, North Dakota, possession of controlled substance (marijuana); possession of controlled substance (oxycontin); possession of drug paraphernalia
• Lindsay Haller, 24, Dickinson, North Dakota, delivery of MDMA (ecstasy); delivery of methamphetamine; possession with intent to deliver (cocaine)
• Jameson Millard, 27, Dickinson, North Dakota, possession of controlled substance (heroin)
• Julia Millard, 19, Dickinson, North Dakota, delivery of controlled substance (oxycodone)
• Shelly Warden, 21, Dickinson, North Dakota, delivery of controlled substance (oxycodone)
• Matthew Kubik, 26, Dickinson, North Dakota, delivery of MDMA (ecstasy); delivery of methamphetamine; possession with intent to deliver (cocaine)
• Todd Hicks, 41, Broomfield, Colo., delivery of controlled substance (marijuana, cocaine and heroin)
• Krystal Sannicolas, 27, Dickinson, North Dakota, possession of controlled substance (cocaine); false information to law enforcement

Purdon stressed that an indictment or complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell is prosecuting the federal cases. The state cases are being prosecuted by State’s Attorney Tom Henning, with assistance from Attorney General Stenehjem’s office.

These cases were a joint investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Metro Area Narcotics Task Force; Southwest Narcotics Task Force; Dickinson Police Department; Stark County Sheriff’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations; Drug Enforcement Administration; and Bismarck Police Department.