In Fargo on October 21, 2025, 46-year-old Jessica Trottier (aka Jessica Lattergrass) pleaded guilty to operating a large-scale methamphetamine distribution network and to violating the federal “kingpin” statute (continuing criminal enterprise).

She admitted to supervising dozens of co-conspirators, importing methamphetamine, ordering firearms transfers, and even seeking murder-for-hire when a member “snitched”.

Federal prosecutors are seeking a sentence of up to 480 months (40 years) in prison—even though the statutory minimum is 20 years.

While the case originates in North Dakota, the implications resonate broadly. The use of the federal “kingpin” statute shows how the U.S. government treats large-scale drug networks, not just street-level dealers. This is important for any community, including in Kentucky, where methamphetamine and other illicit substances remain critical concerns.

In this case, Trottier’s network spanned multiple cities and reservations across North Dakota, including arrests in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Belcourt and Grand Forks.

The investigation included a federal wiretap and surveillance of phone texts and jail calls. Among the recorded communications were text messages in which Trottier insisted: “I’m not your baby, I’m your boss.”

The plea helps illustrate how meth supply chains and networked operations function—not only for local law enforcement in North Dakota but for any jurisdiction that deals with trafficking networks entering from other regions or states.

For Bowling Green residents, the case serves as a reminder to stay alert: large-scale meth operations may not always seem local initially, but the product, proceeds or criminal actors often tie into broader national networks. The successful federal prosecution under the kingpin statute reinforces the federal-state cooperation model, which is relevant if local law enforcement in Kentucky partners with federal agencies.

Breaking the Ring — A Warning to Traffickers Everywhere
Trottier’s guilty plea under the federal “kingpin” statute marks a major win for law enforcement and a strong signal that large-scale meth trafficking networks will face the highest levels of consequences.

For communities in North Dakota and beyond — including Bowling Green, KY — it highlights the need to remain vigilant, support multi-agency collaboration, and remember that what appears local may link to national operations.