Pennington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A Puerto Rican man living in Thief River Falls appeared in court on Monday, July 14, in connection to two major drug trafficking cases involving cocaine and marijuana sales in the region throughout 2024.
Nathanael Centeno Reyes, 28, is facing multiple felony charges in two separate cases:
Case 1 – Filed May 20, 2025
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1st-degree sale of cocaine
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1st-degree possession of cocaine
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3rd-degree possession of cannabis flower
According to court documents, the case began after a traffic stop on October 5, 2024. Officers noticed the odor of marijuana and learned the passenger, Elmer Baez-Rodriguez, was on probation. A search uncovered approximately 30 pounds of marijuana.
Baez-Rodriguez allegedly told police that he and Reyes purchased the marijuana together in Modesto, California, and intended to sell it locally. He also revealed that Reyes was selling cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico—roughly 125 grams every 3-4 months for $1,750 per shipment, which Reyes would allegedly resell at $100 per gram.
A search of Reyes’ residence uncovered:
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155.581 grams of cocaine
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$7,500 in bundled U.S. currency
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Cocaine is packaged in multiple smaller baggies
Case 2 – Filed May 21, 2025 (Incident from August 2024)
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2nd-degree sale of cocaine
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3rd-degree possession of cocaine
This earlier incident began when a confidential informant tipped off law enforcement in August 2024, saying Baez-Rodriguez had offered cocaine. The next day, a controlled buy was conducted at LaFave Park in Pennington County, where Reyes allegedly handed over half an ounce (13.816 grams) of cocaine to the informant in exchange for $800.
The substance tested positive for cocaine by the Minnesota BCA.
Legal Outlook:
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Reyes faces up to 40 years in prison on the most serious charges.
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Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines recommend between 56 and 150 months, depending on his criminal history.
Meanwhile, Elmer Baez-Rodriguez is facing similar charges but has failed to appear in court. A warrant is active for his arrest.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.