Deandre Lashawn Robinson, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Minnesota 2021

A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for his involvement in a fentanyl trafficking ring.

Deandre Lashawn Robinson, 31, was arrested in August 2021 after a lengthy investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. During the arrest, Robinson was found to be in possession of a firearm, cocaine, and MDMA pills. Additionally, he swallowed a handful of M30 fentanyl pills before being apprehended.

Officers administered Narcan to Robinson and transported him to the hospital for treatment. Following his release, Robinson was later found to be in possession of a vehicle containing plastic baggies filled with powder cocaine and approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills, as well as a privately made firearm, or 'ghost gun.'

On April 19, 2023, Robinson pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. He was subsequently sentenced to 129 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David P. Steinkamp and Justin A. Wesley. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Robinson's sentencing marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against fentanyl trafficking in Minnesota. The severity of his sentence serves as a warning to those involved in similar activities.

The exact charges against Robinson include two counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. The crime occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 11, 2021. The sentencing took place on April 19, 2023. Robinson's prison sentence is a result of his guilty plea.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/minneapolis-man-sentenced-more-10-years-prison-possession-intent-distribute-fentanyl