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EAST GRAND FORKS CRIME: Charges Filed in Homicide: Alleged Drug Ringleader Possibly Faces Death Penalty; Drug Ring Includes Victim's Mother

Posted on: Saturday, 28 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By Susanne Nadeau, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Jan. 28--An alleged drug ringleader was charged Friday with the June shooting death of East Grand Forks resident Lee Avila.

Also charged in the drug ring - but not Avila's murder - were Avila's mother and a one-time "American Idol" contestant from Moorhead.

Michael Alan Petzold, 23, Norfolk, Neb., is accused of drug-related offenses, money laundering and, regarding Avila's death, murder. He pleaded not guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Fargo.

Avila, 28, had been living at North Star Terrace, a mobile home park on the north side of East Grand Forks, since being released from prison in August 2004. Two children were in the home June 30 when he was shot multiple times and killed, police said. No other details regarding his death have been released, except police believed at the time as many as three adults may have entered Avila's residence that night.

Petzold is charged with "murder in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise," a charge that could bring the death penalty, Wrigley said at a Fargo news conference.

"This is the first time a federal indictment has been returned in North Dakota or Minnesota - I'm not aware of any there - where a federal death penalty is a potential ... on a narcotics trafficking case," Wrigley said.

Drug ring

Petzold also was charged with continuing criminal enterprise - organizing and supervising at least seven others who distributed meth for him, according to the indictment against him.

Petzold was the only person indicted Friday implicated in Avila's death. The indictment alleges Avila was killed after "substantial planning and premeditation."

Five others, including Avila's mother Francisca Avila-Vargas, 44, of St. Paul, were indicted on the drug conspiracy charges.

Another conspirator, Soledad Ybarra, 21, of Moorhead, was a finalist for Fargo's 2002 "American Idol" competition.

The remaining individuals indicted were Anthony Hector Valdez, 22, Turlock, Calif.; Lacey Kathryn Johnson, 18, Fargo; and Jonathan Olbay Meyer, 21, Fargo.

Active investigation

The six allegedly conspired to move large quantities of meth, cocaine and marijuana from California, Washington, Nebraska and Mexico to North Dakota and Minnesota, Wrigley said.

According to Wrigley, about 15 kilos of meth were seized, worth roughly $600,000.

The drug conspiracy charge carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, Wrigley said.

Six face charges, but the investigation is ongoing and "very active," Wrigley said. More people could be charged, he said.

East Grand Forks detective Rick Blasek and Polk County Attorney Greg Widseth joined Wrigley and others from agencies in Minnesota and North Dakota at Friday's press conference.

Clay County, Minn., authorities said last fall that they found a handgun and a spiral notebook with notes detailing a drug and homicide investigation during a search of the Moorhead apartment where Ybarra lived.

Petzold had been scheduled for trial this week on charges involving a drug conspiracy. Authorities said he had lived in Wahpeton, N.D., and was convicted there for drug possession five years ago.

Petzold and Valdez are being held at the Cass County jail. Ybarra, Meyer and Johnson are out on bail or bond, officials said, and Avila-Vargas is being held at the Stutsman County jail in Jamestown.

Nadeau reports on crime and courts. Reach her at (701) 780-1118, (800) 477-6572, ext. 118; or snadeau@gfherald.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

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Source: Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.)

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