Bigelow, Minnesota — A Bigelow man who had been accused of conspiring to distribute meth was convicted by a jury late last week in federal court in Sioux City.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sioux City 47-year-old Raul Flores Marin was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of possession with intent to distribute meth, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The verdict was returned following about four hours of jury deliberations.
According to the release, the evidence at trial showed that in the early morning hours on July 19, 2017, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a suspicious pickup truck with Minnesota license plates trespassing on property in rural Osceola County. While traveling towards the residence, law enforcement observed a pickup bearing Minnesota plates heading away from the property. Shortly after following the truck, it veered onto the left-hand side of the gravel road and almost into the ditch and a traffic stop was initiated. Law enforcement encountered Marin and after a search of the truck, located and seized a 9mm handgun along with over 15 grams of methamphetamine. Evidence at trial further showed that Marin was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine mixture in the Osceola County area, according to the release.
Marin’s sentencing will be scheduled after a presentence report is prepared. He was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal’s Service after the verdict was returned, and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Attorney’s say Marin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
