Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Kurtis Gordon-Greenwood, a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, has been found guilty by a federal jury for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, attempted possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and illegal possession of a firearm as a felon. This was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
The investigation, which began in 2022, focused on a fentanyl distribution network in St. Paul. Law enforcement intercepted a UPS package from Arizona, containing over five kilos of fentanyl pills, addressed to Gordon-Greenwood's apartment. A search of his residence uncovered a FedEx shipping receipt for a package sent to Phoenix, three cell phones, and a Taurus 9mm pistol with an extended magazine. When authorities intercepted the FedEx package, they found $8,240 in cash.
Due to prior felony convictions, Gordon-Greenwood is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition legally.
"Firearms and drugs are a deadly combination – make no mistake that lives will be saved with Gordon-Greenwood off the streets," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. She added, "Drugs are trafficked to Minnesota by air, vehicle, or through the mail, as we saw in this case. Thanks to the work of our task force partners on this investigation, we have kept thousands of deadly fentanyl pills from hitting our neighborhoods."
Rafael Mattei, Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division Acting Special Agent in Charge, emphasized the danger, stating, "It can’t be stated enough that fentanyl pills carry deadly consequences. If these 50,000 pills had made their way to the streets, there would be countless families across the Twin Cities mourning the loss of a loved one. Remind your loved ones that one pill can kill."
Gordon-Greenwood was convicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and being a felon in possession of a firearm after a three-day trial presided over by Judge Donovan W. Frank in U.S. District Court. His co-defendants, Joshua Lanard Howse and Cornelius David Pierce, have also pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.
The case resulted from a collaborative investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst led the prosecution.
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