Federal Jury Convicts Two Men on Fentanyl Trafficking, Firearms Charges
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury convicted two Minneapolis men of multiple counts of drug dealing, conspiracy to distribute drugs, and illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats.
Following an eleven-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis, Anthony Akemu Abari, 41, and Kevin Termell Green, 38, were convicted late Friday afternoon of multiple counts related to a fentanyl-laced heroin trafficking conspiracy. Abari was further convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to the evidence presented at trial, since 2018, Abari, Green, and others participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin laced with fentanyl. Between late 2018 and mid-2019, the defendants regularly supplied fentanyl-laced heroin to individuals living in a large homeless encampment along Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis. Abari and co-defendant Relondo Devon Hall, 37, stopped there, on a daily basis at times, to distribute drugs they obtained from Green.
In January 2019, law enforcement received information that there was drug dealing going on at a Minneapolis residence. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence where they found Abari with 100 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, a gun, and two phones connecting him to drug dealing. In April 2019, law enforcement received additional information that Abari was in possession of heroin and a firearm. Upon execution of a search warrant, they found Abari in the basement where they also recovered 20 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in July of 2019, upon execution of a search warrant, law enforcement seized 298 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl belonging to Green. Green had been supplying Abari and others with heroin laced with fentanyl from at least December 2018 and continuing into July 2019.
Abari was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of heroin laced with fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of heroin laced with fentanyl, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment. Green was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. Sentencing dates will be scheduled at a later time.
Abari and Green’s co-defendant Relondo Devon Hall, 37, pleaded guilty on July 30, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin A. Wesley and Lindsey E. Middlecamp.
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