Description: Fargo, North Dakota criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with drug trafficking.

Baquan Sledge, a/k/a Rell, a/k/a TJ, a/k/a Matthew Pierce, was convicted of Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone, and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise.

Darius Sledge, a/k/a Ace, a/k/a Man Man, a/k/a Frank Love, a/k/a Gary, a/k/a Bill, was charged with engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone, and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise.

This case is part of "Operation Blue Prairie," an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the multi-state trafficking of oxycodone.

The multi-agency investigation led by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement revealed that the Sledge defendants and their co-conspirators targeted areas with fewer law enforcement resources where they could distribute controlled substances at a premium price. The Sledge defendants and others used local residences and people for distribution and stash houses to further their criminal activities for monetary gain. In total, twenty-six defendants were charged in the case.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rolette County Sheriff’s Department, Bottineau County Sheriff’s Department, Ward County Narcotics Task Force, Lake Region Narcotics Task Force, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Division of Drug Enforcement, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, North Dakota Crime Laboratory, Michigan State Police, Minot Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorneys Dawn Deitz and Lori Conroy assigned with the assistance of lead investigator Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement Special Agent Isaiah Soldier.

21:846 - CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE AND POSSESS WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE; and 21:853 - FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
(1)
21:846 - CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE AND POSSESS WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE; and 21:853 - FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
(1s)
18:1956(h) - MONEY LAUNDERING CONSPIRACY; and 21:853 - FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
(2)
18:1956(h) - MONEY LAUNDERING CONSPIRACY; and 21:853 - FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
(2s)
21:841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) - POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE OXYCODONE; 18:2 - AIDING AND ABETTING; and 21:853 - FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
(3)
21:841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) - POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE OXYCODONE; 18:2 - AIDING AND ABETTING; and 21:853 - FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
(3s)
21:856 - MAINTAINING A DRUG-INVOLVED PREMISE; 18:2 - AIDING AND ABETTING; and 21:853 - FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
(8)
21:856 - MAINTAINING A DRUG-INVOLVED PREMISE; 18:2 - AIDING AND ABETTING; and 21:853 - FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
(8s)
21:848(a) and 848(c) - CONTINUING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE
(14s)

Outcome: 06/17/2022 1196 Final Jury Instructions as to Baquan Sledge and Darius Sledge. (RLB) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
06/17/2022 1197 ORDER DIRECTING JURY MEALS as to Baquan Sledge and Darius Sledge by Judge Daniel L. Hovland. (lc) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
06/17/2022 1198 NOTICE OF HEARING as to Ira Mae Snell: Sentencing set for 7/6/2022 at 02:30 PM in Fargo Courtroom 1 before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte. (EA) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
06/17/2022 1200 JURY VERDICT as to Baquan Sledge (1) Guilty on Counts 1s,2s,3s,8s,14s and Darius Sledge (2) Guilty on Counts 1s,2s,4s,15s. Darius Sledge (2) Not Guilty on Count 7s. (lh) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
06/17/2022 1201 REDACTED JURY VERDICT as to Baquan Sledge, Darius Sledge (lh) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
06/17/2022 1202 RECEIPT for Return of Exhibits as to Baquan Sledge, Darius Sledge (Government's sensitive trial exhibits (controlled substances) returned to case agent) (lh) (Entered: 06/17/2022)

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Defendant's Experts:

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