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Fentanyl sent to Minnesota in stuffed animals. Authorities seize $2.2M in pills.
Law enforcement in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties initiated a joint investigation
Authorities say six people are jailed and charged in U.S. District Court in St. Paul in connection with the seizure of 280,000 fentanyl pills — described as the largest in state history — that were sent from Arizona to the Twin Cities metro area in stuffed animals between August 2022 and December 2023. A joint investigation between local and national agencies led to the seizure of over 66 pounds of counterfeit fentanyl pills with a combined estimated value of over $2.2 million. (Courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office)
By Nick Ferraro | nferraro@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press
PUBLISHED: January 5, 2024 at 11:13 a.m. | UPDATED: January 6, 2024 at 10:04 a.m.
Authorities say six people have been charged in U.S. District Court in St. Paul in connection with the seizure of 280,000 fentanyl pills — described as the largest in state history — that were sent from Arizona to the Twin Cities metro area in stuffed animals.
The seizure, which amounts to 66 pounds of fentanyl pills with an estimated value of over $2.2 million, was the result of an investigation by the Washington County Drug Task Force, Dakota County Drug Task Force, Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, just 2 milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose.
“We continue to see the devastating impacts of fentanyl in our communities,” Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry said in a Friday statement. “With this seizure, we know that hundreds, if not thousands of lives have been saved.”
Minnesota had 1,002 opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2022, according to the state Department of Health, and fentanyl contributed to 92% of them.
Federal prosecutors charged the six defendants Dec. 12 with conspiracy to distribute the potent synthetic opioid between August 2022 and December 2023.
They are:
Cornell Montez Chandler Jr., 24, of St. Paul;
Robiel Lee Williams, 23, of St. Paul;
Quijuan Hosea Bankhead, 30, of St. Paul;
Stardasha Christina Davenport-Mounger, 24, of Minneapolis;
Fo’Tre Devine White, 30, of St. Paul;
Shardai Rayshell Allen, 24, of Minneapolis.
Several defendants traveled to Phoenix to obtain fentanyl pills from suppliers, hid the pills inside stuffed animals and mailed them to addresses in and around the Twin Cities, prosecutors say.
White was also charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a machine gun. The indictment alleges that White possessed two pistols, one of which was equipped with an auto sear, or “switch,” which converts semiautomatic firearms to fully automatic weapons.
All defendants have made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Docherty in St. Paul.