Michael Antwain Modisett, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Dist…

A major blow has been dealt to the heroin trade in the Midwest with the sentencing of Michael Antwain Modisett, a 34-year-old Minneapolis resident, to life in federal prison. Modisett, also known as “MOE”, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Heroin following a five-day trial on January 8, 2016.

According to US Attorney Christopher C. Myers, Modisett’s sentencing on January 25, 2017, was the culmination of a lengthy investigation into his heroin distribution network, which spanned multiple states. The probe revealed that Modisett had been supplying large quantities of heroin to individuals in Moorhead, Minnesota, and Fargo, North Dakota, since late 2012.

Modisett’s operation involved transporting heroin from Chicago, Illinois, and Minneapolis to the Fargo/Moorhead area, where local distributors would sell the drug to customers. The investigation found that Modisett continued to run the operation even while he was housed in a halfway house in the Minneapolis area on an unrelated matter. During this time, Modisett’s distributors in the Fargo/Moorhead area would contact him, and he would arrange for his associates to deliver more heroin to the area.

The money generated from the heroin sales was then wired to Modisett or sent to him via his associates in Minneapolis. The investigation, which involved the Fargo Police Department, Moorhead Police Department, Cass County Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force, uncovered dozens of instances of heroin seizures and cash proceeds destined for Modisett.

Modisett’s conviction is part of a larger crackdown on heroin distribution in the region, with a total of eight individuals convicted in U.S. District Court in North Dakota for their roles in the conspiracy. The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Brett Shasky and Jennifer Puhl, who worked tirelessly to bring Modisett and his co-conspirators to justice.

The life sentence handed down to Modisett serves as a stark warning to those involved in the heroin trade: the consequences of their actions will be severe and far-reaching. As the Midwest continues to grapple with the heroin epidemic, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors remain committed to dismantling distribution networks and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.

In a statement, US Attorney Christopher C. Myers emphasized the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime. The successful prosecution of Modisett and his co-conspirators is a testament to the power of collaboration and the dedication of law enforcement officials to keeping communities safe from the scourge of heroin.