ST. PAUL, MN – Andre Garner, 42, of Minneapolis, has admitted to flooding the streets with fentanyl, pleading guilty today to possession with intent to distribute the deadly opioid. The bust, a joint operation by the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), pulled nearly 800 grams of fentanyl off the streets – enough to kill tens of thousands.
The January 24th raid on Garner’s South Minneapolis residence wasn’t just about fentanyl. Law enforcement also discovered a stash of over 1,000 grams of cocaine, two firearms, and a cool $9,400 in cash. Garner, according to court documents, didn’t bother denying ownership of any of it, readily admitting to authorities that everything seized – the drugs, the money, even the van where the fentanyl was hidden – belonged to him.
This wasn’t a small-time operation. The sheer volume of fentanyl seized points to a significant distribution network, likely fueling the opioid crisis that continues to ravage communities across Minnesota. While authorities haven’t detailed the extent of Garner’s network, the amount of product suggests he wasn’t simply holding for personal use.
Garner appeared before Judge Jerry W. Blackwell in U.S. District Court and entered a guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The charge carries a hefty potential sentence, but the exact length of time Garner will spend behind bars remains to be seen; a sentencing hearing is scheduled for a later date. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Andrew M. Luger, is prosecuting the case.
The ATF’s involvement highlights the increasing overlap between drug trafficking and firearms offenses. It’s a common pattern: drug dealers arm themselves to protect their illicit operations and the profits they generate. This case is a stark reminder of the dangerous intersection of drugs and guns on Minneapolis streets.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor is handling the prosecution, and will likely present evidence outlining Garner’s criminal history, the scope of his operation, and the devastating impact of fentanyl on the community. While one dealer is off the streets, the fight against fentanyl and other dangerous drugs is far from over. The St. Paul Field Division of the ATF remains committed to dismantling these networks and bringing those responsible to justice.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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