A confidential informant helped detectives recover nearly five pounds of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun from a Saint Paul apartment in late August, according to charges.
Candice Lee Goebel, 42, of Saint Paul, faces four felony charges: first-degree aggravated controlled substance crime involving a firearm, first-degree possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of illegal possession of a firearm or ammunition as a person with a felony conviction.
According to the complaint, during the week of August 10, 2026, a detective with the Washington County Drug Task Force received information from a confidential informant that a woman known as “Candice Goebel” was selling felony amounts of methamphetamine. The informant reported purchasing methamphetamine from Goebel multiple times and provided the phone number used to arrange the sales.
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Detectives confirmed Goebel’s identity and learned she had active warrants and a felony conviction history that made her ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition. During the weeks of August 10 and August 17, detectives conducted surveillance at Goebel’s Saint Paul residence and observed her at the apartment.
On August 26, 2026, at about 9:15 a.m., detectives executed a search warrant at the apartment. Goebel and a man identified as Michael William Joseph Schally were found in the bedroom and detained. Schally told officers he had been dating Goebel for about a week and a half, did not live at the apartment and only had a basket of laundry, a phone and his motorcycle at the residence. Schally was found with 2.2 grams of methamphetamine.
During the search, detectives found numerous baggies containing substances that field tested positive for methamphetamine, with net weights of 4.5 grams, 76.5 grams, 5.4 grams, 176.8 grams, 69.4 grams, 9.8 grams, 887.9 grams and 890.1 grams. In the bedroom, detectives found a purse with a debit card in Goebel’s name and a baggie containing 6.9 grams of methamphetamine.
Another purse held a loaded Taurus G2c 9mm pistol, two spare magazines and a baggie with 54.1 grams of methamphetamine. Detectives also seized $16,834 in cash.
The total amount of methamphetamine recovered from the apartment was 2,181.4 grams, or about 4.8 pounds. After being read her rights, Goebel responded to a detective’s comment about the large quantity of drugs by saying, “that’s not a lot,” before requesting an attorney.
The complaint notes Goebel’s prior felony convictions for second-degree drug sale, third-degree assault, possession of burglary tools and fifth-degree drug possession. She also has an open felony theft case at the time of filing.
The charges were filed Tuesday, September 22, in Washington County District Court.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s weapons offenses include § 624.713 (felon in possession of a firearm, five-year mandatory minimum for a prior crime of violence), § 609.66 (dangerous weapons, including drive-by shooting at § 609.66 subd. 1e) and § 609.165 (firearm restoration after a felony). Discharge of a firearm within a municipality is charged under § 609.66 subd. 1a.
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Jurisdictional Context
Ramsey County encompasses Saint Paul and is served by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Felony cases are heard in the Second Judicial District at the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown Saint Paul; the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office operates the Ramsey County Correctional Facility in Maplewood.
