ST. PAUL, Minn. - A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 129 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in August 2021, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department received information that Deandre Lashawn Robinson, 31, was dealing narcotics and was in possession of a firearm. Officers conducted surveillance and saw Robinson engage in numerous hand-to-hand transactions from his vehicle. On Aug. 11, 2021, officers arrested Robinson on an outstanding warrant. Inside Robinson’s vehicle, officers found a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield.40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, cocaine and MDMA pills. During the incident, Robinson was able to conceal a handful of M30 fentanyl pills. While in the backseat of the squad vehicle, Robinson swallowed the pills. Officers administered Narcan and brought him to the hospital. Robinson was treated and ultimately released.
According to court documents, officers later located Robinson as well as a vehicle he had rented. Officer obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and found plastic baggies containing powder cocaine and approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills. Officers also found a privately made firearm, or “ghost gun," between the passenger seat cushion and the seat cover.
On April 19, Robinson pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Robinson was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud.
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 David P. Steinkamp and Justin A. Wesley prosecuted the case.