North Dakota Man Charged With Distribution Of A Controlled Substance, Firearm Offense And Asset Forfeiture

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a North Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Ricardo Avila, age 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 19, 2012 for Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Firearm Offense and Asset Forfeiture. Avila appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 20, 2013 and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, or both; at least 3 years of supervised release, an additional 3 years of supervised release upon revocation; and a mandatory $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges are merely accusations, and Avila is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case.

Avila was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has not been set.