📍 Clay County, MN – A drug trafficking investigation led to the arrest of Elizabeth Brinkman, 32, of Glyndon, Minnesota, and Jason Keller, 38, of Nelson, Minnesota. Both are now facing three first-degree felony drug charges in Clay County District Court.
Investigation & Surveillance
📅 Timeline of Events:
- February 9, 2025: A Moorhead police investigator received a tip-off that Brinkman was trafficking methamphetamine from Minneapolis to the Fargo area.
- Brinkman was already on pre-trial release for a federal narcotics charge at the time of the alleged offenses.
- Investigators secured a warrant to track her phone activity as part of the drug surveillance operation.
📌 Tracked Movements:
- Left Glyndon, MN, for Minneapolis
- Made several stops around Minneapolis
- Stopped at Jason Keller’s residence in Nelson, MN before heading back toward Fargo
Traffic Stop & Drug Seizure
🚔 Location: Interstate 94 near Barnesville, MN
🐶 K-9 Alert: A drug-sniffing dog detected narcotics in Brinkman’s vehicle.
📦 Drug Seizure: Officers discovered 56 grams of methamphetamine.
💼 Charges for Both Suspects:
- First-degree sale of meth within 90 days (two counts)
- First-degree possession of meth (over 50 grams) (one count)
Potential Sentences & Legal Consequences
📜 Each charge carries serious penalties:
- Maximum Sentence: 30 years in prison per charge
- Maximum Fine: $1 million per charge
⚖️ If convicted on all counts, Brinkman and Keller could each face up to 90 years in prison.
Previous Criminal History
🔎 Elizabeth Brinkman
- Previously arrested on federal narcotics charges
- Was out on pre-trial release at the time of the arrest
🔎 Jason Keller
- No prior public record was immediately available
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional arrests are expected in connection to this case. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate potential connections to larger drug distribution networks in Minnesota and North Dakota.
🚨 If you have any information related to drug trafficking in the area, contact law enforcement immediately.
📝 I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me