More arrests in Federal Operation Winter’s End
U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, a federal search warrant was executed at 8571 39th Street Northwest just east of New Town, N.D., as Phase III of the continuing investigation dubbed Operation Winter’s End. Operation Winter’s End is a long-term, multi-agency investigation led by the FBI into the activities of alleged drug trafficking organizations that have purportedly been dealing narcotics on the Fort Berthold Reservation, in Williams County, and in Mountrail County in northwest North Dakota.
The execution of this federal search warrant resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine and 19 firearms.
As a result of the execution of the search warrant, the following individuals: Jaron Licea, 21, Watford City, Jesse O. Licea, 23, Watford City, and Kristin Marie-Joyce Gould, 22, St. Clair Shores, Mich., have been charged in North Dakota District Court, Mountrail County with: (1) possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, class A felony; (2) possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine), class C felony; (3) possession of marijuana – class A misdemeanor; and, (4) possession of drug paraphernalia (marijuana) – class A misdemeanor. A fourth subject was also arrested during the search. Houston James Kirkaldie, 26, New Town, is charged in U.S. District Court with assault of a dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury. This investigation continues and additional federal charges remain a possibility as well.
