Austin Daily Herald

Peter George Noe, 26 of Lyle, and Timothy James Schultz, 21, were convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine Monday by a federal jury after a week-long trial in Minneapolis.

"We're very pleased. This was a good day for law enforcement," Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp said today.

The men were found guilty of conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, according to the District of Minnesota United States Attorney's office. Schutlz also was convicted of possessing one pound of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Noe also was convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.

Three other accomplices were also indicted on related charges. Terry Lynn Bauman, 29, Michael Arthur Clennon, 22, and Amy Marie Placek, 40, all of Austin, pleaded guilty prior to trial and are awaiting sentencing, according to the United States Attorney.

Noe and Schultz distributed at least 11 pounds of methamphetamine -- enough for 50,000 individual doses -- in the Austin area during 2001 and 2002, according to trial testimony.

Noe faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to 40 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute marijuana, according to the District of Minnesota United States Attorney's office.

Schultz could be imprisoned for a minimum of 10 years for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, according to the United States Attorney's office.

The men are expected to be sentence in three to four months by Chief Judge James Rosenbaum.

Local law enforcement officials characterized the Peckerwood chapter's members and Noe the largest organized gang trafficking in drugs in Mower County.

According to the police chief, the lead investigators in the case will discuss how they assembled evidence against the chapter's leaders and members at a special press conference scheduled Wednesday morning.