Pennington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—John James Nogowski, a 26-year-old resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota, was sentenced in Pennington County for a felony charge of fifth-degree possession of drugs, specifically Schedule I-IV substances or related paraphernalia, excluding cannabis or hemp. The court imposed a 28-month prison sentence, which was stayed for three years, during which Nogowski will serve supervised probation. He is required to complete a comprehensive assessment within 60 days of sentencing and follow through with any recommended treatment and aftercare programs. Additionally, Nogowski is prohibited from using or possessing firearms, ammunition, or explosives for life unless his civil rights are restored, must provide a DNA sample, and was ordered to pay $210 in fees and fines.
The charge originated from a January 25 incident involving communication between a Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force officer and a confidential informant. According to the complaint, the informant indicated that Nogowski had methamphetamine available for sale. Under the officer’s direction, the informant arranged to purchase methamphetamine from Nogowski for $600 in East Grand Forks. Subsequently, Nogowski scheduled a meeting with the informant in the 200 block of LaBree Ave. N. in Thief River Falls. The informant was equipped with an audio recording and transmitting device. At approximately 3:37 a.m. on January 26, the transaction was completed, with two other individuals present at the location.
The informant handed over to the task force officer a bag containing methamphetamine, a white pill, and a blue pen with a small bag inside. Nogowski sold 10.131 grams of methamphetamine to the informant for $400, with the remaining $200 in drug-buy funds returned to the task force. Prior to the transaction, Nogowski retained 1.75 grams of methamphetamine for personal use and provided 3.5 grams to one of the other individuals present. That individual allegedly gave the informant the pen containing a small bag of methamphetamine to deliver to a third person. The same individual also provided the informant with a white pill identified as hydrocodone. The informant feigned consumption of the pill and later submitted it to law enforcement. The informant positively identified Nogowski from a photograph as the individual who sold the methamphetamine.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me