14 Charged In Fentanyl Trafficking Gang Operation: Authorities

MINNEAPOLIS — Federal authorities have announced charges against 14 members and associates of the Minneapolis Highs gang in connection with a fentanyl trafficking operation that spanned years and crossed state lines.

Highs members made numerous flights between the summer of 2020 and the spring of 2023 from Minneapolis to Phoenix, Arizona, and back, sometimes carrying large amounts of cash, to get fentanyl pills for resale, authorities said. During the same time, gang members also shipped parcels containing the pills to Minneapolis from Arizona, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 25 pounds of fentanyl, at least 36 guns and over $218,000 in cash, authorities said.

“Selling fentanyl in our communities is as dangerous and lethal as the brazen gun violence we’ve seen in our cities,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said Wednesday in a department news release.

“Addressing the nexus between narcotics trafficking and violent crime is a critical piece of our Violent Crime Strategy, and I am grateful to my law enforcement partners who are equally focused on protecting the lives of Minnesotans, regardless of the threat.”

The charges include a long list of crimes, among them kidnapping, assault, carjacking and gun violations, authorities said.

The Highs have operated mainly on the north side of Minneapolis since around 2008, gathering at businesses and homes in the area of West Broadway Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North, authorities have said.

The following defendants — all from Minneapolis— are charged with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute drugs, according to the department:

• Gregory Brown, also known as Lil’ G and Knowledge, 33;
• Marques Walker, also known as Q and Quez, 41, additionally charged with drug distribution and drug possession with intent to distribute;
• Deandre Poe, also known as Squizzy and Fat Squad, 34;
• Clinton Brown, also known as CJ, 29;
• Amarjah Lester, also known as M-Thang, 21, additionally charged with gun possession during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime;
• Christopher Lee Washington, also known as Flock and David Hendricks, 29;
• Ernest Ketter, also known as Shakedown, 27;
• Robert Lesure, also known as Bibby Folks, 21;
• Avante Nix, also known as Fat Folks, 21;
• Arron Davis, also known as A-Boogie, 31;
• Dashawn Jackson, also known as D-Nice, 31.

Other defendants include the following, according to authorities:

• Jadarius Wright, 29, of Phoenix, charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs, drug distribution and drug possession with intent to distribute;
• Carlos Serrano, 31, of Phoenix, charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs;
• Leneal Frazier, also known as Baby Chop and Lil’ Chop, 22, of Minneapolis, previously indicted Sept. 6, charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, carjacking and brandishing a gun during and in relation to a violent crime.

If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy, authorities said.

The superseding indictment unsealed Wednesday follows indictments unsealed in May charging 30 members and associates of the Highs and the Bloods, another Minneapolis-based street gang, according to the department. Those charges included racketeering conspiracy involving alleged murder, attempted murder, robbery, obstruction of justice and drug trafficking, authorities said.

Separate drug and gun charges were brought against another 15 gang members at the same time, according to the department.