NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 30, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Wade Backstrom
218-726-2323 or backstromw@stlouiscountymn.gov
Jury Convicts Jennifer Ann Schostag for Role in Iron Range Narcotics Sales and Trafficking
Court File # 69HI-CR-24-195
On October 30, 2025, a jury found Jennifer Ann Schostag, 50, guilty of Aggravated First-Degree Sale of Methamphetamine and Aggravated First-Degree Possession of Methamphetamine following a four-day trial before the Honorable Bhupesh Pattni held in Hibbing, Minnesota.
At trial, the evidence established that Ms. Schostag, an Anoka resident, was arrested after being surveilled by law enforcement on multiple occasions, making trips from the Iron Range to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and returning. While heading back to the Hibbing area on March 28, 2025, law enforcement stopped one vehicle driven by Ms. Schostag and a second vehicle driven by a co-defendant David Allen Hoskins. While executing a search warrant on the vehicle driven by Ms. Schostag, law enforcement found two packages of methamphetamine on the floor of the vehicle weighing 434 grams and 448 grams, respectively (1.94 pounds combined). The case against Mr. Hoskins remains pending with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for November 9, 2025.
“Aggravated First-Degree Sale and Possession of a Controlled Substance are the most serious felony drug offenses under Minnesota law. This conviction sends a strong message that drug dealers will not be allowed to poison our community for profit. Our office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who traffic in dangerous substances and protect the safety of our residents,” said County Attorney Maki.
The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office credits the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for the successful outcome in the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Jeff Vlatkovich.
Sentencing is set for November 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in Hibbing.
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