Maple Grove Felon Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking, Possession of a Machinegun
MINNEAPOLIS – A Maple Grove felon has been sentenced to 360 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl while possessing a machinegun, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on June 4, 2022, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department received a complaint that an individual, later identified as Derrick Maurice Scott, 34, had threatened a man at a convenience store while brandishing a firearm. Two days later, officers located Scott and conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Scott was a passenger. Following a search of the vehicle, officers recovered 355 fentanyl pills and a Glock 41, .45 caliber pistol equipped with an auto-sear or “switch” (a device that makes a firearm function as a fully automatic machinegun) and a high-capacity magazine. Because Scott has multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated robbery, domestic assault, and terroristic threats, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
On February 7, 2023, Scott was convicted by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, carrying a machinegun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machinegun, and possession of a firearm as a felon. Scott was sentenced today to the mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison, before Senior U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Hollenhorst and Chelsea A. Walcker prosecuted the case.
