Two of five suspects in methamphetamine trafficking in Mower County have been released from custody of the United States Attorney.

Three others are still in custody awaiting a hearing scheduled Thursday.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office in Minneapolis, Michael

Arthur "Mack" Clennon, 21, and Amy Marie Placek, 40, entered innocent pleas Tuesday at their formal arraignment.

Clennon and Placek were then released on bond.

Still being detained are Peter G. Noe, 25, Timothy James Schultz, 21,

and Terry Lynn Bauman, 29.

A detention hearing is scheduled 2 p.m. Thursday. Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Paulsen is prosecuting the cases. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office had not other details about the cases.

Last Friday, a trio of local law enforcement officials announced the arrests of the five people at their residences in Austin, Lyle and Rochester.

Noe, Schultz and Bauman were all indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine as well as possession of the drug. Noe was also indicted specifically for the sale of methamphetamine. In addition, he was also charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Clennon and Placek were charged with distribution and possession of methamphetamine.

Search warrants were executed by 50 local, state and federal agents last Friday morning.

Noe and Schultz were incarcerated in the Mower County Jail on other charges at the time of the raids. Police have said all five individuals are believed to have played key roles in the narcotics ring. The investigation began in January 2000.

Police said Noe, Schultz and Bauman all have links to the Inland Empire white supremacist organization. Local authorities verified that in earlier statements prior to last Friday's announcement, the methamphetamine ring was broken.

On Monday, a car owned by Noe was seized at a private residence in Mason City, Iowa. The vintage Chevrolet was transported to the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center's garage for storage.

The break in the investigation was announced by Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp, Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi and Mower County Attorney Patrick W. Flanagan.

Philipp also credited Austin Police Detective David T. Schaefer and Sue Linkenmeyer, a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation special agent, with being instrumental in piecing together the case.

Also, the police chief credited Flanagan with doggedly pursuing the case. Another agency considered instrumental was the Minnesota Gang Strike Force.

The indictments mentioned large quantities of drugs, including 500 grams of methamphetamine and 220 pounds of marijuana.

In an unrelated case, the Mower County Sheriff's Office led a drug raid on a mobile home in the village of Lansing two weeks ago. Police confiscated a large amount of methamphetamine at the residence.

Just what kind of an impact both cases will have on drug trafficking in Mower County remains to be seen.

"Whenever we have significant drug arrests like this, it puts the lid on things for some time," Philipp said, noting that it will only last "for the time being."

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com