A North Dakota woman faces federal drug charges after allegedly conducting a methamphetamine distribution operation for nearly a decade.
Esther Marlene Decoteau, also known as Esther Perdomo, was indicted on conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute on February 11 in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota.
According to the indictment, Decoteau allegedly conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine between 2015 and October 25, 2025. The operation allegedly started at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation and spread to Dunseith, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Minneapolis.
Federal prosecutors allege that Decoteau and his co-conspirators recruited local North Dakota citizens as sub-distributors to seek customers, used cell phones to arrange drug transactions and monitor shipments, and stored drug revenues in their home.
On January 16, 2025, authorities recovered roughly $577,662 in cash from a Dunseith property, followed by another $10,509 from a car in Grand Forks County on October 25, 2025.
If convicted, Decoteau faces confiscation of the confiscated dollars as well as any property derived from or used to aid the accused drug activity.
Decoteau was due to appear in court remotely from the Heart of America Correctional & Treatment Center in Rugby on February 20.
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