First Defendant in Conspiracy Sentenced to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Trafficking Fentanyl to Bemidji and the Red Lake Indian Reservation

MINNEAPOLIS - United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Marquise Javon Walker, 30, of Lakeville, Minnesota, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Walker was sentenced before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim on October 13, 2026. He is one of three defendants in a drug trafficking conspiracy, and he previously pleaded guilty on April 3, 2026. Walker's co-defendants, La'Veal O. Allen, 40, of Minneapolis, and Michaela K. McKinney, 38, of New Hope, Minnesota, are currently awaiting sentencing.

According to court documents, starting no later than March 31, 2024, and continuing through at least September 10, 2024, Walker entered into an agreement or understanding with others to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances. On March 31, 2024, the defendant drove from the Twin Cities metro area to Bemidji, Minnesota, to assist a co-conspirator's drug distribution activities.

On April 13, 2024, the defendant's co-conspirator sold approximately 48 grams of fentanyl to a buyer. Following the sale, law enforcement stopped the defendant while he was driving in his vehicle with his co-conspirator in the passenger seat. Officers searched the vehicle and found inside the passenger-side glove compartment the defendant's Glock .45 caliber handgun.

In the following months, law enforcement seized an additional approximately 267 grams of fentanyl as well as 29.5 grams of methamphetamine from the defendant's co-conspirator through a series of controlled purchases.

"For years, this defendant took advantage of addiction to make money. My office is committed to disrupting the flow of drugs into northern Minnesota and the Red Lake Indian Reservation," said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

"For too long, individuals from outside northern Minnesota have exploited our communities, taking advantage of addiction, economic hardship, and the increased profitability of distributing narcotics in rural areas. Those times are gone. If you bring fentanyl into our region to distribute and profit from the suffering of others, we will use every investigative resource available to identify you, gather evidence against you, and hold you accountable. This conviction is a direct result of that commitment and the hard work, dedication, and professionalism of our agents and the local, state, tribal, and federal partners involved in this investigation," said Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force Commander and Beltrami County Sheriff's Office Sergeant David Hart.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, FBI Headwaters Task Force, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Bemidji Police Department, Hubbard County Sheriff's Office, Morrison County Sheriff's Office, Morrison County Attorney's Office, Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division, and the Minnesota State Patrol.

Assistant United States Attorney Garrett S. Fields prosecuted the case.

Note: Previous press release on the indictment here.