Woman Charged After Meth Raid In Woodbury

A 51-year-old woman made her first appearance in a Washington County court Wednesday afternoon after narcotics officers seized 129.87 grams of methamphetamine from lockers she leased at a Woodbury self-storage facility.

Janis Crary Werkhoven was arrested on June 3, 2011, and charged with first-degree sale of more than 10 grams of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of more than 25 grams of a controlled substance after a narcotics task force executed a search warrant on three storage lockers and a nearby recreational vehicle at the facility at 881 Weir Drive in Woodbury.

According to a Ramsey County criminal complaint filed on July 26, 2011: 

Narcotics officers arrested Werkhoven and her 50-year-old husband, Sidney Allen Werkhoven, after a confidential informant (CI) purchased drugs from the couple "on multiple occasions" while under surveillance.

The CI also claimed to have witnessed the couple selling "large amounts of methamphetamine" to various individuals from the RV.     

During their search of the RV, narcotics officers found several bags of what they suspected to be methamphetamine. They also found a digital scale containing drug residue and a notebook, which the officers believed to contain information on drug transactions. The blue notebook was in the name of Sidney Allen Werkhoven. 

Inside the storage lockers, narcotics officers found a red notebook containing notes they believed to be evidence of drugs transactions. The name "Jan" was written on the front of the notebook.

Officers also found a drug scale, two notepads containing other drugs notes and $1,980 in cash in the storage lockers.

The suspected drugs seized were sent to the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory and confirmed to be methamphetamine.

During a post-arrest interview, Janis Werkhoven denied knowing anything about the drugs. She also stated neither she nor Sidney had ever sold drugs. 

The narcotics task force consisted of officers from the St. Paul Police Department, Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Washington County Sheriff's Office and .

Each charge against Janis Werkhoven carries with it a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for a first conviction—40 years for a second conviction—and a $1 million fine.  

Janis Werkhoven is scheduled for an omnibus hearing on April 25 and a jury trial on June 11.