Major Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

MINNEAPOLIS - William Wayne Ray Schubel, 33, has been sentenced to 140 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine, in addition to illegally possessing numerous firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

"A four-time felon who chose to poison our communities is now going to federal prison for more than a decade," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. "Methamphetamine is one of the deadliest forces eating away at Minnesota's neighborhoods. We will keep putting major dealers behind bars until our communities are free from this poison."

Law enforcement identified Schubel as a high-volume methamphetamine dealer. A confidential informant saw Schubel in possession of five pounds of methamphetamine individually packaged in one-pound vacuum sealed bags. The informant also heard the defendant discussing his receipt of fifty pounds of methamphetamine.

On January 10, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at Schubel's two residences-a home in Oak Grove, Minnesota, and an apartment in Anoka, Minnesota.

Inside Schubel's Oak Grove home, law enforcement found 746 grams of methamphetamine and 220 grams of cocaine inside a backpack that also contained a digital scale. Also at the Oak Grove residence, police found a vast array of firearms (12 in total), ammunition, and firearm accessories. This included, among other things, a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol (bearing the defendant's DNA) with an extended magazine concealed under the defendant's pillow.

Inside Schubel's Anoka apartment, law enforcement found an additional five grams of methamphetamine, a firearm cleaning kit, and multiple rolls of vacuum seal bags.

Schubel was arrested that day, in his car. The defendant had $2,378 on his person as well as a cellphone.

Agents searched Schubel's phone and found more evidence of drug trafficking. Agents found messages where Schubel sent drug "menus" to customers, listing various controlled substances using code names and offering the controlled substances for sale in full pound, half-pound, and quarter-pound amounts.

Agents also found messages where Schubel discussed selling controlled substances and his knowledge that doing so would entail significant consequences. Among other things, Schubel explained he was going to delete his messenger app, because "the Feds can find it and look at that shit"

Schubel has a long and violent criminal history. Schubel has four prior felony convictions, including a conviction for domestic assault by strangulation, and three convictions for drug distribution and possession. Because of his prior felony convictions, it is illegal for Schubel to possess firearms and ammunition.

Schubel was sentenced in U.S. District Court before District Judge John R. Tunheim.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael B. Coburn prosecuted the case.