St. Cloud Woman Apprehended in Mexico Faces Narcotics Trafficking Charges in North Dakota

FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that a fugitive wanted in North Dakota, Deanna Marie Gerads, age 33, appeared in Federal court in Houston, Texas on August 3, 2023, on a warrant and Indictment from North Dakota charging Gerads with Conspiracy to Distribute and Import Controlled Substances into the United States. Gerads was ordered detained by United States Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon and will be transported by the United States Marshals Service to North Dakota for an initial appearance.

Gerads was apprehended in Mexico on August 1, 2023, by Mexican immigration authorities and deported from Mexico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was instrumental in providing information that led to the apprehension of Gerads, who has been a fugitive for over a year. 

This case is part of “Operation Unfinished Business II,” an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the international trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.

This case is being investigated by the Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force (CMVOTF), Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Cloud Police Department, Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Sartell Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service – CID, Fargo Police Department, West Fargo Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Myers and Alex Stock, District of North Dakota.

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