Grand Forks Woman Accepts 'lenient' Plea Deal For Drug Crimes

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GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks woman who was charged with multiple drug crimes accepted a plea agreement that Judge Donald Hager said was the most lenient he had ever seen at a hearing Monday morning.

“In over four decades of practice and 12 of those being a judge,” Hager said, “I have never seen such a lenient plea agreement, and at first glance I wouldn’t have accepted it.”

Erika Perez, 45, will serve 366 days with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and three years probation effective immediately for dealing cocaine. She has 131 days of credit for time served. The remaining sentence will be completed on electronic home monitoring. All other charges received a three-year deferred imposition dependent on her completion of and compliance with parole.

Her co-defendant and husband, Jesus Perez, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in April.

Perez has two active cases. She was charged with multiple drug crimes for the sale of cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and THC. She was also charged with child endangerment, but it was dismissed per the plea agreement.

The first case was the result of a search warrant of her vehicle. Perez and her husband were stopped by law enforcement on July 24, 2025. Their 2-year-old son was in the back seat.

During a search of the vehicle, which was a rental from Grand Forks Regional Airport, officers found 263.9 grams of cocaine and 40 grams of marijuana. They also found $3,875 in cash which, according to the affidavit, is “indicative of sales.”

When giving the facts of the case, Megan Essig, the prosecutor representing the state, said it was “one of the largest cocaine busts in this area.”

In the second case, law enforcement searched her residence and “stash house,” according to the affidavit.

At her residence they found 13.9 grams of cocaine, 7.3 grams (including vile weight) of fentanyl, 555.03 grams of THC edibles, 25 THC vape cartridges, 47.7 grams of marijuana and $3,437 in cash, according to the affidavit.

At the second location officers found 131 grams of methamphetamine, 3.8 pounds of marijuana and 29 THC vape cartridges.

Perez was initially set to have a jury trial in June, but it was canceled.

The defense tried to have Perez’s charges reduced to misdemeanors by disposition so she would not have a felony on her record. They appealed to her character and lack of criminal record.

Perez previously worked with the East Grand Forks Public Works Department for 18 years. She resigned because of her incarceration. She plans to pursue a degree in accounting and earn a Realtor’s license, according to her attorney, Erica Hovey.

Hovey argued that Perez’s aspirations “are going to be inhibited with a felony conviction.”

Perez’s daughter, Lylah Garza, took the stand in tears wearing a shirt with family pictures. It read, “This is Erika Perez. This is my Mom!”

She described Perez as the rock of the family. She said “she will forever be my role model.” Other family members, friends and neighbors also attended the hearing.

Hager ultimately decided to keep the felony charge.

“If family is important,” he said, “why are you taking the risk that you did?”