Fairfax man indicted for drug trafficking

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PAUL -- One of two Fairfax men was indicted on federal drug trafficking charges Tuesday.

A federal grand jury handed down an indictment against Jesus Ramirez-Marquez, 30, of Fairfax, after considering all the evidence against him in a week-long investigation.

Ramirez-Marquez was arrested with Federico VIlla-Solis, 20, also of Fairfax, in Redwood Falls on the night of July 8.

In that arrest, federal agents reportedly seized 1 kilogram of cocaine from the SUV that Ramirez-Marquez drove. Officials in Redwood Falls said the seizure is the largest such operation in Redwood County's history.

Assistant U.S Attorney Chris Wilton said the grand jury returned no bill against Villa-Solis during its investigation, but was quick to add that Villa-Solis shouldn't be ruled out of the case just yet. Wilton said Villa-Solis will be set free today, pending an investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

"He could be a part of the case again, depending on the investigation," Wilton said.

If convicted, Ramirez-Marquez faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years, depending on where he falls along federal sentencing guidelines.

The arrest was the result of two months of investigation by federal agents into drug trafficking in southwestern Minnesota. The kilogram of cocaine, which agents reportedly purchased for $34,000, is said to have a street value of $110,000.

Wilton said an arraignment date for Ramirez-Marquez hasn't been set yet, but expects it will be set by the end of next week. After that time, the federal case against Ramirez-Marquez will follow the normal route through U.S. District Court in St. Paul.

Ramirez-Marquez was indicted by the grand jury after hearing the government's case against him. The jury handed down the indictment because it felt the evidence against Ramirez-Marquez warrants a trial. Villa-Solis was released because the jury didn't feel the case against him was sufficient.

In federal grand jury proceedings, evidence is given to the grand jury without the defendant being present and only evidence against Ramirez-Marquez was heard during the investigation. Federal grand juries, by law, are not trial juries and grand jury cases are not heard in public.