Three Charged After Search Reveals 4,000+ Fentanyl Pills, Guns, Cash
The Saint Louis County Attorney’s Office has charged three people after a search warrant last Wednesday revealed 1,355 fentanyl pills, multiple guns, ammunition and over $18,000 in cash.
Charging documents filed Monday say that police were involved in a multi-month, ongoing investigation into the sales of counterfeit fentanyl pills by a man identified as Marquis J. Johnson, 27, of Duluth, out of his home in Duluth. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted surveillance and observed multiple quick stops at the address, consistent with drug sales.
PREVIOUSLY: Police Find 4,000+ Fentanyl Pills During Search Warrant
On June 21, while officers were conducting surveillance, they observed Erik Demetrius White Sr., 36, of Chandler, AZ, and Kehla Lanae Ivori Dunn, 30, of Duluth, park in front of Johnson’s residence. Both White and Dunn exited the vehicle, leaving Dunn at the residence. Officers witnessed White hand Johnson a shoebox before leaving in his vehicle. Officers conducted a traffic stop while simultaneously executing a search warrant at Johnson’s home.
The criminal complaint states as part of the search warrant, officers detained Johnson and Dunn. When officers entered the home, they say Johnson’s 3-year-old child was sleeping in a room within reach of an uncased, holstered handgun with live ammunition in the magazine. Officers also recovered 1,355 fentanyl pills, more than $18,000 in cash, firearm ammunition and overt evidence of drug sales.
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Dunn told police that she and White are dating and that a few hundred of the pills they located in the home belonged to her. During a search of Dunn’s wallet, law enforcement located a business card for a storage unit in Duluth. Investigation revealed that Dunn and White were renting a storage unit at the location and obtained a search warrant for the unit. There, officers found mail and prescription medications for Dunn, as well as a suitcase that contained 3,161 additional Fentanyl Pills.
Dunn, White, and Johnson each face two counts of aggravated controlled substance crime in the first degree and face up to 40 years in prison if convicted. In addition, Johnson was charged with child endangerment and negligent storage of firearms, both gross misdemeanors.
All three made initial court appearances Monday afternoon where bail was set at $250,000 for each with no conditions, or $100,000 with conditions.
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