Man charged after Hibbing Post Office drug bust

HIBBING, MN. (Northern News Now) - A man has now been charged after five pounds of meth were discovered in a package at the Hibbing Post Office.

Jory Christian Sirjord, 30, of Hibbing has been charged with first-degree possession of 50 grams or more of meth.

According to the criminal complaint, an inspector with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) identified a package that was being sent from a known controlled substance source location in Southern California to a residential address in Hibbing.

The return address on the package was not a valid postal address, but the recipient’s address was in Hibbing.

The recipient’s name on the package was listed as “Mary Magdalene III,” but was the address of another woman.

In addition, the postage for the package was paid in cash.

On October 13, the inspector intercepted the package when it was on its way to Hibbing and transported it to the city’s post office.

Three days later on October 16, an investigator with the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force had Murphy, a trained narcotics detection dog, sniff the package along with four additional empty boxes.

While inspecting the package, Murphy indicated to investigators that there was a presence of narcotics.

Court documents say later that day a USPS worker placed a note at the receiver’s address stating the package needs to be picked up at the Hibbing Post Office.

Investigators with the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office observed the apartment the package was addressed to.

They were able to identify the woman and Sirjord going in and out of the apartment.

Around 4 p.m., investigators saw Sirjord leave the apartment and head to the post office by bicycle.

He then went inside the post office, picked up the package from the USPIS inspector, and then walked outside.

As Sirjord left the building agents with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and other officers approached him.

He then ran back into the post office.

Officers followed Sirjord inside and were able to arrest him and seize the package.

According to the criminal complaint, after getting a search warrant authorities opened the package to find five plastic containers wrapped in dryer sheets and bubble wrap.

Inside each container was a white crystal material that tested positive for meth.

The total weight of the drugs, including packaging, was 2427.15 grams.

In addition, each set of packaging without meth weighed approximately 29 grams.

This made the approximate net weight of the meth to be 2,282 grams or just over five pounds.

Investigators then went to the apartment where officers talked to the woman who lived there and was seen with Sirjord.

While talking to authorities, the woman stated that she received the notice to pick up a package at the post office and that she thought it contained auto parts from eBay.

She said that Sirjord went to go get the package.

In addition, she said that she used her cell phone to track the package and provide directions for its delivery.

At that time, the woman was arrested and her cell phone was taken as evidence.

On October 17, investigators searched through the woman’s phone after getting a search warrant.

Authorities say messages were located on the phone that were sent between “Aunty Linda” and the woman.

In one of the messages from October 9, “Aunty Linda” wrote that the woman’s residential address with the recipient name of “Mary Magdalene III” was “the address I sent them” and indicated that the package contained “Cartel promises.”

Messages on October 16, between “Aunty Linda” and the woman discussed the fact that the package needed to be picked up at the post office.

The woman wrote, “Jory said he will do it if you bail him out if they arrest him.”

“Aunty Linda” then replied, “Done if he isn’t he wins a ball.”

Authorities say a “ball” refers to 3.5 grams of meth.

After her arrest, the woman was brought to the hospital for health concerns and was not booked into the jail.

Sirjord currently has fourteen criminal files in both Virginia and Hibbing marked as “Pending Disposition” in Minnesota Government Access dating back to 2016.

Those charges include six felonies of first-degree DWI, second-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, motor vehicle theft, fifth-degree controlled substance possession (meth), and fleeing in a motor vehicle.

He has seven gross misdemeanors including second-degree DWI, third-degree DWI, false name to police officer, intent to escape tax, and has three driving after cancellation – inimical to public safety charges.

In addition, Sirjord has eight misdemeanors of fifth-degree assault, driving without Insurance, expired plates, and five driving after revocation charges.

Sirjord is looking at up to 40 years in prison for the incident.

His initial court appearance is set for October 30.

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