MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Fourteen members and associates of the notorious Minneapolis Highs gang are facing federal charges after a sweeping indictment unsealed Wednesday revealed a years-long conspiracy of racketeering and large-scale fentanyl trafficking. The charges paint a grim picture of a criminal enterprise responsible for flooding Minneapolis streets with deadly fentanyl while simultaneously engaging in brazen acts of violence, including kidnapping, assault, and carjacking.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger minced no words, stating the charges are aimed at dismantling the gang’s “extensive fentanyl trafficking operations.” He connected the drug trade directly to the escalating gun violence plaguing the city. “Selling fentanyl in our communities is as dangerous and lethal as the brazen gun violence we’ve seen,” Luger said. “Addressing the nexus between narcotics trafficking and violent crime is a critical piece of our Violent Crime Strategy.”
The indictment details a sophisticated operation stretching as far as Phoenix, Arizona. Between the summer of 2020 and the spring of 2023, Highs members allegedly made numerous flights between Minneapolis and Phoenix, carrying large sums of cash to purchase fentanyl pills for resale. Simultaneously, the gang utilized the U.S. Postal Service to ship fentanyl directly to Minneapolis. The operation wasn’t just about moving product; it was about maintaining control through intimidation and violence, investigators say.
Law enforcement officials have seized a substantial amount of evidence, including approximately 11.6 kilos of fentanyl – enough to kill millions – at least 36 firearms, and over $218,000 in U.S. currency. The indictment names several key figures within the Highs gang, each facing a litany of serious charges. Among those indicted are Gregory Brown, aka Lil’ G, aka Knowledge, 33, charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Marques Walker, aka Q, aka Quez, 41, facing RICO Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance; and Deandre Poe, aka Squizzy, aka Fat Squad, 34, also charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
Further defendants listed in the indictment include Clinton Brown, aka CJ, 29, charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Amarjah Lester, aka M-Thang, 21, facing RICO Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Christopher Lee Washington, aka Flock, aka David Hendricks, 29, charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Ernest Ketter, aka Shakedown, 27, charged with RICO conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Robert Lesure, aka Bibby Folks, 21, facing RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Avante Nix, aka Fat Folks, 21, also charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Arron Davis, aka A-Boogie, 31, facing RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Dashawn Jackson, aka D-Nice, 31, charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Jadarius Wright, 29, of Phoenix, Arizona, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Possession with Intent to.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between multiple federal agencies, underscores the growing threat posed by organized crime groups exploiting the opioid crisis. While the indictment represents a significant blow to the Highs gang, authorities warn that the fight against fentanyl trafficking and related violence is far from over. The case is ongoing, and further arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues to unravel the full scope of the gang’s criminal network.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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