Pennock, Minn., man enters plea for meth deal; will serve 45 months in prison

WILLMAR — Elio Naranjo Infante, 44, of Pennock, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a third-degree drug possession charge for his role in selling methamphetamine to a CEE-VI Drug Task Force informant in November 2011.
As part of a plea agreement reached in Kandiyohi County District Court, the charge was reduced from first-degree level and another first-degree drug possession charge and two petty misdemeanor charges will be dismissed. He will be sentenced, to 45 months in prison, on April 11.
Infante and Joel Gomez, 31, of Willmar, were charged in the case. Gomez was sentenced in August to 94 months in prison on a first-degree drug possession charge.
The charges were filed after Nov. 21, 2011, when Gomez and the informant traveled from Willmar to Pennock to purchase meth from Gomez’s supplier, later identified by Gomez as Infante. After the purchase was made, their vehicle was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy. An ounce of meth was located in the vehicle with a $100 bill that had previous been recorded by CEE-VI agents.
Gomez was arrested and 28.5 grams of meth were located in his possession. He had a prior conviction for third-degree drug possession in 2006.
Agents also served a search warrant on Infante’s residence, along First Street North, and located 5.4 grams of meth hidden inside a roll of paper towels. The search also revealed $2,600 in cash stashed inside a wall in a cabinet, numerous pieces of surveillance equipment and 18.4 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.