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Press Release

Moorhead Man Sentenced to Life in Prison on a Federal Drug Conspiracy Charge

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of North Dakota

FARGO - U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on May 1, 2013, Raul Tovar of Moorhead, Minn., was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute in excess of 500 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine.

Judge Erickson sentenced Tovar to life imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Tovar was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

Tovar, 49, was found guilty by a 12-person jury on Jan. 22, 2013, of the conspiracy and aiding and abetting charge. Judge Erickson presided over the five-day trial.

In December of 2011, Moorhead police officers were investigating a drug trafficking organization in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Following an execution of a search warrant at the AmericInn Lodge and Suites in Moorhead, agents arrested Jason Keller. Further investigation revealed that Keller and others were obtaining drugs from Tovar.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Fargo and West Fargo Police Departments, and Moorhead, Minn. Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Myers and Megan A. Healy prosecuted the case.

Updated January 29, 2015