2 Mexican Citizens Charged in Apple Valley Marijuana Bust

Two people living in Apple Valley are facing drug charges and likely deportation to Mexico after authorities seized 77 pounds of marijuana and more than $37,000 in cash from their home last week.

Geraldo Sanchez Ramos, 34, and Yesenia Ponce-Carbajal, 26, who live in the 13900 block of Holyoke Avenue, are facing felony second-degree drug charges. Ponce-Carbajal is charged with possession with intent to sell marijuana, and Ramos is charged with aiding and abetting the same crime. Both are citizens of Mexico.

The maximum penalty for each is 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said the seizure by the Dakota County Drug Task Force was one of the largest marijuana seizures in the county in recent years; during all 2010, marijuana seizures totaled 46.5 pounds.

According to the criminal complaints, drug task force agents—who earlier in the day conducted a controlled buy of marijuana from the defendants—stopped their car near Interstate 35E and Dakota Co. Road 11 on June 30 and asked the front-seat passenger, Ponce-Carbajal, for identification.

Ponce-Carbajal showed officers a Mexican identification card. When they asked for more identification, she opened her purse, and an agent saw a large plastic bag full of marijuana, the complaint says.

During a subsequent search of the car, agents found a cooler in the trunk containing 16 one-pound bricks of marijuana, according to the complaint. Both Ponce-Carbajal and the driver, Ramos, were arrested, and agents went to their home to execute a search warrant.

During that search, agents found 61 bricks of marijuana in coolers in the basement, along with marijuana in various other locations, numerous Moneygram receipts, and U.S. currency totaling $37,468, the complaint says.

Ramos was questioned and told officers that during the traffic stop, he put the marijuana in Ponce-Carbajal’s purse. He also said he knew about the marijuana in the trunk and in the house, and told agents that he and some friends bought the drugs in Mexico and brought them to Minnesota, according to the complaint.

Ponce-Carbajal denied knowing anything about the drugs, according to the complaint, and told officers that the money found at her home belonged to Ramos’ friends, because "her boyfriend did not have money."

Ponce-Carbajal remains in the Dakota County Jail on a $150,000 bond and is also on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold; Ramos was released last week on bond. Backstrom said Ramos already has been deported from the United States twice.