Following a four-day trial, a federal jury in Minneapolis has found Antonio Trevyll McGraw-Williams guilty of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson announced the conviction.
“This defendant knew exactly what he was doing—pushing deadly poison into our communities that he bragged was strong enough to kill. This is appalling,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “With a long and violent criminal history, this defendant made a career out of exploiting addiction and endangering lives. Today’s conviction sends a clear message: if you try to profit off of death and destruction, you will be held accountable. The people of Bemidji and greater Minnesota deserve better than to live under the threat of fentanyl-fueled addiction and loss.”
Court documents revealed that in 2022, special agents from the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force discovered McGraw-Williams was transporting fentanyl from Minneapolis to Bemidji for sale. He allegedly boasted about the potency of his drugs, claiming they could be lethal.
Agents obtained a search warrant for McGraw-Williams’s hotel room in Bemidji, where they found fentanyl along with drug paraphernalia including tinfoils, a blender, scales, and packaging materials. They also recovered his cell phone containing text messages arranging drug deals. DNA evidence linked him to the bag of fentanyl.
McGraw-Williams has prior convictions for First Degree Aggravated Robbery, Felony Violation of Order for Protection, and Felony Domestic Assault.
The trial took place before Judge Joan N. Ericksen in U.S. District Court where McGraw-Williams was found guilty on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Sentencing will occur at a later date; he faces ten years to life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, Bemidji Police Department, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew D. Forbes and Matthew D. Evans prosecuted the case.
