ST. PAUL, Minn. - A Beltrami County man has been sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in September 2019 law enforcement commenced an investigation of a drug trafficking organization distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine in northern Minnesota. As part of this investigation, police conducted a traffic stop in Park Rapids of a tow truck being operated by Trent Michael Holden, 52, of Solway on Feb. 16, 2020. A search of the tow truck revealed one pound of methamphetamine, $34,852, and a firearm. Holden was arrested but later released from custody. On March 27, 2020, officers observed Holden returning to Bemidji from the Twin Cities where he was suspected of meeting with his drug source of supply. Officers stopped Holden, who appeared to be intoxicated, and recovered from his vehicle five pounds of methamphetamine, 21 MDMA pills, a firearm, a box of ammunition, and $4,096 in cash. Holden was charged in state court and later released from custody. On Sept. 28, 2021, officers observed Holden driving a tow truck and hauling a Dodge Neon. A subsequent search of the tow truck and the Dodge Neon revealed approximately 2.8 pounds of methamphetamine and $4,010 in cash.
Holden was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright. On May 11, 2022, Holden pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Dunne prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
