After a thorough investigation into fentanyl distribution in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Dimitric Wilson was found guilty on multiple drug-related charges, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Wilson, who was taken back to the Twin Cities from Detroit, was stopped by the Minnesota State Patrol, where inconsistencies in his and his passenger's stories raised suspicion,s leading to the discovery of a significant amount of fentanyl concealed within an altered electrical panel in the vehicle.
Marked with a history of previous convictions ranging from misdemeanors to federal felonies, acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick emphasized Wilson's persistent involvement in illegal drug activities even after being released from custody, stating, "Wilson showed that he would not be stopped—despite a prior federal conviction, he peddled his poison to the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation." Found selling fentanyl to a government informant while on pretrial release, Wilson’s conviction now carries the weight of a future behind bars, facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The conviction underscores the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies in tackling the supply chain of deadly drugs like fentanyl. The collaborative investigation brought together resources from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Tribal Police Departments, among others, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Campbell Warner and Allen A. Slaughter.
Underlining the severity of the opioid crisis, Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis highlighted the devastation wrought by fentanyl, "Fentanyl continues to ravage communities across the country, fueling addiction, tragedy, and loss," he observed the importance of bringing traffickers to justice not only to prevent further tragedy but to uphold the safety of the community.
