Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — Just weeks before his arrest in a major cocaine and marijuana trafficking case, Nathanael Centeno Reyes, age 27, of Thief River Falls, was already under investigation for a previous drug sale that took place in a public park.
According to a new criminal complaint filed in Pennington County District Court, Reyes is now facing two additional felony charges connected to a controlled buy arranged by law enforcement on August 16, 2024.
Task Force Officer Ben Tureson was contacted by a confidential informant who said Elmer Baez Rodriguez reached out offering to sell cocaine. A sting operation was set up the next day at LaFave Park. The informant was given $800 in marked money and instructed to meet Rodriguez at the park.
When the informant arrived, a vehicle matching Rodriguez’s black Toyota Corolla was already there. According to the report:
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Reyes was in the passenger seat, while Rodriguez drove.
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Reyes exited the vehicle, approached the informant, handed over a bag containing white powder, and took the cash.
The substance was tested and confirmed to be 13.816 grams of cocaine by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Reyes is now facing:
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Count I: 2nd Degree Sale of 10+ grams of Cocaine (Max: 25 years, $500,000 fine)
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Count II: 3rd Degree Possession of 10+ grams of Cocaine (Max: 20 years, $250,000 fine)
This case adds to Reyes’s growing list of drug charges in Pennington County, including a separate incident involving 155 grams of cocaine and 30 pounds of marijuana found in his apartment and vehicle during an October 2024 bust.
Did you know?
📄 Charges:
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2nd Degree Drug Sale (152.022.1(1)) – 13.816g cocaine
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3rd Degree Drug Possession (152.023.2(a)(1))
💰 Penalties:
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Up to 25 years in prison and $500,000 fine (Sale)
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Up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine (Possession)
📍 Court File No.: 57-CR-25-337
📍 Prosecutor File No.: 25-600-50
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News.