Three individuals in Minnesota face charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and firearm violations, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. The defendants, identified as La’veal O’Neal Allen, Marquise Javon Walker, and Michaela Karon McKinney, are accused of trafficking fentanyl to Bemidji and the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
From April 2024 to September 2024, Allen, aged 38, from Minneapolis, Walker, 28, from Lakeville, and McKinney, 37, from New Hope, allegedly conspired to possess and distribute fentanyl. Additional charges for Allen include felon in possession of a firearm due to his criminal background, which prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kirkpatrick emphasized the impact of fentanyl in Minnesota, particularly on Indian reservations, stating, “Fentanyl continues to flood communities throughout Minnesota, and unfortunately, we see some of the highest rates of overdose and addiction on our Indian reservations.” Kirkpatrick further noted that the defendants have been a negative influence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation and the Bemidji area for years.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Prosecuting the case is Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. McBride.
It is important to note that an indictment is an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.