Hopkins Man Behind 'PlantFoodUSA.net' Gets Life In Prison: Feds

HOPKINS, MN — A Hopkins man was sentenced to life in prison Monday for distributing illegal drugs online, ultimately causing the death of 11 people and injuring four others, federal authorities announced.

The drug transactions were made on his website, "PlantFoodUSA.net," authorities said.

Following a 10-day trial in March, Aaron R. Broussard, 31, was convicted on 17 counts, including conspiracy, importation of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substance analogues.

During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson told Broussard that "Your disregard for human life is terrifying."

Nelson also praised the bravery of the victims and their families in providing their victim impact statements to the court.

"Eleven lives lost," remarked U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. "Families, friends, and communities forever changed by the devastation brought on by Aaron Broussard’s deadly fentanyl. Although the trauma felt by the victims can never be undone and the true cost can never be calculated, Mr. Broussard will now spend the remainder of his life behind bars."

"Today’s sentencing of Aaron Broussard sends a clear message in how critical a role the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its law enforcement partners play in protecting American consumers from illegal narcotics being shipped via the U.S. Mail," said Ruth Mendonça of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

"U.S. Postal Inspectors are committed to continuing our work to dismantle drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from greedy drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives."

From 2014 through 2016, Broussard bought illegal drugs smuggled from China and sold them on his website, according to authorities. He then mailed his drugs using the United States Postal Service, investigators said.

In March 2016, Broussard placed a drug order for 100 grams of 4-FA, a controlled substance analogue, which was shipped from China, according to authorities. However, the package actually contained 100 grams of 99 percent pure fentanyl, investigators said.

Broussard — who experienced similar mixups before — did not test his drugs before giving them to customers, according to authorities.

Broussard sent the fentanyl to more than a dozen customers throughout the United States who had actually ordered an amphetamine analogue, a drug similar to Adderall, investigators said. The customers were not opiate users and had no tolerance for fentanyl.

After ingesting the fentanyl, believing it was Adderall, eleven of the customers died from a fentanyl overdose, and at least four customers suffered serious injuries.

Though Broussard found out that several of his customers had been hospitalized and nearly died, he never warned his other customers, according to authorities.

However, Broussard did reach out to his suppliers in China and asked for a discount on his next drug delivery, investigators said.