A federal grand jury has indicted 11 individuals in connection with a drug trafficking and kidnapping conspiracy that allegedly operated across international borders and brought cartel-linked violence into the Twin Cities region.

Those charged include:

  • Richar Sanchez Mujica, 30, facing charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to kidnap, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

  • Donovan Rey Lopez, 21, of Minneapolis, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

  • Erling Soren Holdahl, 48, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.

  • Dostin Elizander Ortiz-Garcia, 29, of Burnsville, Minnesota, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

  • Jonathan Salvador Juarez-Ferrer, 25, of Minneapolis, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

  • Timothy Duane Ripley, 45, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.

  • Kendra Sue Johnson, 39, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.

Richar Sanchez Mujica, 30, facing charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to kidnap, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Donovan Rey Lopez, 21, of Minneapolis, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Erling Soren Holdahl, 48, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.

Dostin Elizander Ortiz-Garcia, 29, of Burnsville, Minnesota, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Jonathan Salvador Juarez-Ferrer, 25, of Minneapolis, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Timothy Duane Ripley, 45, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.

Kendra Sue Johnson, 39, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.

Four additional co-conspirators have been indicted but have not yet made their initial court appearances.

SWAT officers during a kidnapping incident in Saint Paul on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. MN CRIME PHOTO

Prior to the federal indictment, three individuals—Richar Sanchez Mujica, Erling Soren Holdahl, and Kendra Sue Johnson were charged in Ramsey County following a January 7, 2025, incident in Saint Paul. According to reports, law enforcement, acting on a tip from within the drug organization, tracked Mujica's location and conducted a traffic stop, discovering methamphetamine and a stolen firearm. Information obtained led a SWAT team to a Payne Avenue residence in Saint Paul, where they rescued a victim found chained and injured in the basement. The trio faced charges including kidnapping for ransom, first-degree assault, and drug possession.

PREVIOUSLY: 3 Charged in Cartel-Linked Saint Paul Kidnapping

The investigation is the result of joint efforts by Homeland Security Investigations, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Saint Paul Police Department’s Violent Crime Enforcement Team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minneapolis Police Department, Ramsey County, and the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force.