DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Minnesota

For Immediate Release

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Eleven Individuals Charged in Red Lake Methamphetamine, Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced two separate federal indictments charging 11 individuals in connection with parallel methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution conspiracies on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Ten defendants are currently in custody and will make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court over the next several days.

According to allegations in the indictment, between August 2019 and December 2019, KYLE DALE CLARK, JOSE ARCEGA-VEJAR, VALERIE ANN CLARK, VANESSA LOUISE COBENAIS, KATHI LYN DUDLEY, DREW WILLIAM GRAVES, and KALYSSA KAILANI DEANAH WHITE conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine on the Red Lake Indian Reservation and the surrounding area. Between April 15, 2020, through April 22, 2020, WHITE and ARCEGA-VEJAR also conspired with DAVID ALAN JOURDAIN, TARA MAE LUSSIER, and ANDREW JAMES NEADEAU to distribute fentanyl on the Red Lake Indian Reservation and the surrounding areas.

According to allegations in the indictment, COREY LEE DONNELL and KYLE CLARK were charged with firearms violations for illegally selling and possessing a firearm, namely a Glock model 26gen5, 9mm pistol. Because he has a prior felony conviction in U.S. District Court, KYLE CLARK is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald thanks the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force for their collaboration and skilled investigative work in bringing these indictments. Additional assistance during the arrests was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Fargo and the Metro Street Crimes Unit in Fargo, North Dakota.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina L. Allery and Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad are prosecuting the case.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defendant Information:

KYLE DALE CLARK, 29

City of residence unknown

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
  • Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count

JOSE ARCEGA-VEJAR, a/k/a “Jos Ar,” a/k/a “Jose Robles,” 32

Baja, Mexico

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
  • Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, 1 count

VALERIE ANN CLARK, 51

Redby, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count

VANESSA LOUISE COBENAIS, 31

Bemidji, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count

KATHI LYN DUDLEY, 42

Redby, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count

COREY LEE DONNELL, 28

Redby, Minn.

Charges:

  • Sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person, 1 count

DREW WILLIAM GRAVES, 32

City of residence unknown

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count

KALYSSA KAILANI DEANAH WHITE, 19

Red Lake, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
  • Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, 1 count

DAVID ALAN JOURDAIN, 38

Red Lake, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, 1 count

TARA MAE LUSSIER, 20

Red Lake, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, 1 count

ANDREW JAMES NEADEAU, 28

Red Lake, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, 1 count

###

St. Paul Field Division