Bismarck (trfnews.i234.me) — A North Dakota woman accused of leading a major meth ring has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.
Jessica Trottier, 46, received that sentence on Thursday, April 9. Chief Judge Peter Welte handed down the decision in federal court. The case centered on a wide drug network that operated from July 2021 through September 2022.
Wide meth network across North Dakota
Prosecutors said Trottier led a large meth operation that reached many parts of the state. The drug ring sold meth in the Fargo-Moorhead area. It also reached tribal lands and smaller North Dakota towns.
According to court testimony, the network had ties to suppliers in California. Those suppliers were said to have links to Mexican cartels. Investigators said multi-pound loads of meth were driven to North Dakota for Trottier to distribute.
Trottier was arrested during a raid at a farmhouse south of Bismarck in September 2022. Officers found her hiding in a crawl space. Court records said she was armed with four guns at the time.
Dispute over sentencing factors
Before sentencing, the court heard hours of arguments over key factors in the case. Federal prosecutors pushed for a tougher sentence. Trottier’s defense asked for the 20-year minimum sentence.
The court also weighed claims that Trottier tried to arrange violence against a co-conspirator. Prosecutors further argued that she used another woman, Amanda Henley, to pressure co-defendants not to cooperate.
Her attorney, Christopher Dohrer, said Trottier was not a criminal mastermind. He told the court she was an addict who got in too deep. He also said she owed nearly $250,000 to suppliers when she was arrested.
Dohrer argued that cartel-linked suppliers in the same case received much shorter prison terms. He said other defendants blamed Trottier instead of helping prosecutors build cases higher up the chain.
The wiretap helped break the case
Prosecutors said a federal wiretap became a major turning point. The phone monitoring began in August 2022. It allowed investigators to track calls and messages in real time.
In court, prosecutors used those recordings to support claims about threats and witness pressure. The government said the wiretap showed how large the operation had become. Prosecutors also said it revealed how Trottier tried to keep control as arrests mounted.
Court testimony showed the operation faced repeated setbacks. Brendan Moore, Trottier’s boyfriend, was arrested in January 2022. Several meth shipments were also seized before reaching North Dakota.
Still, prosecutors said Trottier kept going. They told the court she stockpiled guns and bought vehicles with drug money. They argued those purchases were used to hide profits.
Judge calls case remarkable
Judge Welte said the conduct in the case was remarkable. He said the conspiracy was broad, deep, and serious. He also said he had considered an even harsher sentence.
Twenty people were charged in the case. All have pleaded guilty or signed plea agreements. Fifteen have already been sentenced. Four more are set to be sentenced later this year.
For more on federal drug enforcement, visit the DEA. Court information is available through the U.S. District Court for North Dakota. Federal case updates can also be found at the U.S. Department of Justice.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.