By Jennifer Rogers, Tribune staff writer
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 21, 2004
An informant’s tip led law enforcement to conduct a bust which netted 19 pounds of
methamphetamine this past weekend.
Martin Paradee and Leilani Houle of Montevideo were arrested Dec. 18, after police and drug task force members found the meth in their car.
On Dec. 18, an agent with the South Central Drug Investigation Unit was working with an informant on a drug case, when the informant advised the agent that Houle would sell the agent a half ounce of crystal meth, and that she would bring the meth to Albert Lea.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. the pair arrived in Albert Lea. According to a press release issued by the drug task force, the informant received a call and Houle told the informant to meet Paradee in the bathroom of a business on Bridge Avenue. The informant met with him, and purchased the half ounce of crystal meth for $1,200. The informant proceeded to turn over the meth to the agent.
With the assistance of the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and the Albert Lea Police Department, Paradee and Houle were arrested. According to the press release, when a deputy tried stopping the vehicle in the parking lot, Paradee put the car in reverse and started backing up quickly as if he was trying to flee. At that time, a marked Sheriff’s car was pulling up behind Paradee and Houle’s car, and they drove into the deputy’s car.
During a search of the car, agents, deputies, and detectives located the meth.
Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that Paradee had outstanding warrants in other counties, and had just been released this year after serving five years in prison for armed robbery.
Paradee is expected to be charged with first degree sale of meth, second degree possession of meth, and driving while under the influence of a controlled substance. Houle is expected to be charged with first degree conspiracy to sell meth and second degree possession of meth.
(Contact Jennifer Rogers at jennifer.rogers@albertleatribune.com or at 379-3439.)