A major blow to the Brainerd Lakes Area’s illicit fentanyl trade has been dealt, as 28-year-old Dazaughn Ellis West pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute thousands of fentanyl pills.
According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a storage unit in Brainerd belonging to West on August 1, 2023, where officers found between 13,000 and 15,000 pressed fentanyl pills weighing approximately 2.8 pounds.
An additional 150 grams of fentanyl pills, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, a .22 caliber rifle, and distributable quantities of cocaine were discovered at West’s home in Brainerd.
West pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, a serious crime that warrants severe punishment.
This case demonstrates the collaborative effort made by law enforcement agencies in the region to combat the growing fentanyl crisis. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, Brainerd Police Department, and the Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division (LADID) all contributed to the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren O. Roso is prosecuting the case, which will now move to sentencing hearings. West’s co-defendant, Devaughn Ellis West, is scheduled to plead guilty on August 19, 2024.
Fentanyl trafficking has devastating consequences, and it is imperative that those involved face the full extent of the law. As the Grimy Times continues to investigate and report on these crimes, we remain committed to shedding light on the dark underbelly of illicit activities in our community.
Dazaughn Ellis West, 28, is currently facing one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and his sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date.
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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