Minneapolis Men Sentenced to Life and 95 Months for RICO and Fentanyl Trafficking
In a brutal display of gang violence, two Minneapolis men have been handed down severe sentences for their roles in a deadly RICO conspiracy. Tyreese Giles, 25, was sentenced to life in prison on April 23, 2026, after a jury found him guilty of Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Conspiracy, which included a gang-related murder. Ernest Ketter, 30, received a 95-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release on April 29, 2026, after being convicted of a separate drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the defendants terrorized their communities, arming themselves and hunting down suspected rivals on the streets of Minneapolis while openly selling fentanyl, an extremely deadly drug. These sentences demonstrate the Criminal Division’s commitment to holding gang members and their associates accountable and restoring safety to communities plagued by violence.
The sentences were a result of a sustained, coordinated effort to dismantle a violent gang that brought fear and deadly drugs into the Minneapolis community. ATF and its partners leveraged crime gun intelligence and complex investigative techniques to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The case highlights the devastating impact of gang violence and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to combat it. As Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph Persails of ATF’s St. Paul Field Division noted, these sentences reflect the sustained, coordinated effort required to dismantle a violent gang that brought fear and deadly drugs into the Minneapolis community.
Giles and Ketter’s convictions and sentences serve as a warning to those involved in gang activity: the consequences of their actions will be severe and long-lasting. The Minneapolis community can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that justice has been served and that those responsible for the violence and suffering will be held accountable.
In total, the sentences imposed on Giles and Ketter reflect the gravity of their crimes and the importance of holding gang members accountable for their actions. As the city of Minneapolis continues to rebuild and recover from the effects of gang violence, these convictions and sentences serve as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and law enforcement’s commitment to keeping the streets safe.
Source: Department of Justice
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