A federal jury on Tuesday convicted a Hawley, Minn., woman of lying to a grand jury and obstructing justice in a drug trafficking investigation.
Linda Quam, 35, testified before a federal grand jury in October that she had no knowledge of drugs being sold from her rural Hawley home, an indictment says.
But Tuesday a trial jury in U.S. District Court in Fargo found that Quam lied to the grand jury and obstructed a large criminal investigation into a drug trafficking ring.
While working for law enforcement, a confidential informant bought methamphetamine three times from Quam's boyfriend, Harold Schultz, Clay County sheriff's detective Charles Anderson testified.
The jury listened to a recording made by the informant. Quam can be heard taking part in a June 12 drug deal at the home she shares with Schultz, Anderson said.
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The day after the drug buy was recorded, law enforcement officials raided the farmstead.
Inside the home they found about 2.3 grams of meth. In a garage, officers found 111 grams of marijuana. They also found drug paraphernalia, a police scanner and about $2,000.
The drug trafficking investigation is continuing, Anderson said.
He said drug charges haven't been filed because law enforcement officers want "to encompass all the people in the conspiracy."
Quam's trial began Monday and ended about 3 p.m. Tuesday. The jury deliberated about two hours before finding her guilty of both charges.
Quam, a receptionist at a Fargo health-care provider, could be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison and fined $250,000 for lying to the grand jury.
Quam could also be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison and fined $250,000 for obstruction of justice charge.
U.S. District Judge Rodney Webb scheduled Quam's sentencing for June 3.
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Quam is free on bond until her sentencing.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Zent at (701) 241-5526
