Crime & Safety

Lakeville Man, Two Others Charged with Trafficking Cocaine

Charged are: Mauricio DeJesus Garcia, 21 of Lakeville; Adrian Michael Thomas, 21 of St. Paul; and Leobardo Sandoval, Jr., 23 of Rosemount.

A Lakeville man and two other men have been charged with trafficking cocaine.

The charges come following undercover buys of cocaine in the past two weeks, according to criminal complaints filed in Rice County District Court.

Charged are: Mauricio DeJesus Garcia, 21 of Lakeville; Adrian Michael Thomas, 21 of St. Paul; and Leobardo Sandoval, Jr., 23 of Rosemount.

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Thomas faces three first-degree felony drug sale charges; Garcia faces first-degree possession with intent to sell, first-degree conspiracy to sell and second-degree possession of 6 grams or more of cocaine, all felonies; Sandoval faces first-degree possession with intent to sell, first-degree conspiracy to sell and second-degree aid/abet possession of 6 grams or more of cocaine, all felonies. 

All first-degree charges carry a maximum penalty of not more than 30 years in prison and/or a $1 million fine. The second-degree charges have a maximum penalty of not more than 25 years in prison and/or a $500,00 fine.

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According to the charges:

The Rice County Drug Task Force and Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force were investigating cocaine sales in and trafficking in Rice County.

On April 10, an undercover agent was introduced to Thomas, according to the complaint. The agent bought 14.9 grams of cocaine (weighed with packaging) for $650 at the Flying J Travel Plaza. (formerly Big Steer).

The agent and Thomas exchanged texts and calls and met again on April 18 at Flying J, the charges say. The agent bought 22 grams of cocaine for $1,000, but Thomas told him that he was more of a “weed” guy and recommended another cocaine supplier named “Junior,” who was later identified as Sandoval, according to the complaint.

The agent arranged to buy 3 ounces of cocaine for $2,700 from Sandoval, the charges say, and Sandoval arrived with a passenger, identified as Garcia at Flying J.

Garcia approach the agent and repeatedly suggested he try the cocaine because there were a lot of “red flags” when meeting a new buyer, the complaint says, and the agent eventually gave a signal to have law enforcement intervene and the two men were arrested without incident.

Court records show that Garcia has a hold with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the complaint, and Sandoval has two active Ramsey County warrants for his arrest.

Sandoval has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for domestic abuse and drug possession, according to Minnesota Court records.
In 2009, Garcia plead guilty to second-degree assault, according to Minnesota Court records.

Thomas posted bail and was released from Rice County Jail. Thomas next appears May 1.

Sandoval and Garcia remain in jail.

Sandoval is being held on $400,000 bail or $150,000 with conditions. His next appearance is May 1.

Garcia is being held on $100,000 bail or $30,000 with conditions. He next appears in court on May 1.

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