A federal jury has convicted Carl Maurice Brown, 32, of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine following a three-day trial in St. Paul, Minnesota. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
Brown was among several individuals indicted in February 2024 for their roles in a drug trafficking scheme led by Ezell Cordero Lucas, also known as “Cash.” Lucas and five other defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
“This conviction closes the book on a dangerous fentanyl trafficking ring that pumped poison into northern Minnesota from Chicago,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Fentanyl has devastated families and communities across our state, and this case is a powerful reminder: we will not let drug traffickers exploit our cities or our rural communities. We are grateful to the federal, state, and local partners whose tireless work dismantled this network and helped protect Minnesotans from the lethal fentanyl epidemic.”
Between December 2021 and February 2024, Lucas managed a large-scale drug distribution operation based in Chicago that transported significant amounts of fentanyl to Duluth, Minnesota. According to authorities, Lucas worked with local distributors in Duluth to build a customer base for fentanyl sales in the Twin Ports region. He directed associates from Chicago—including Brown—to travel to Duluth and oversee operations locally while managing customer communications from Chicago.
Law enforcement reported seizing over 890 grams of fentanyl and 262 grams of methamphetamine during 19 separate seizure events related to the organization’s activities. These seizures occurred through controlled buys, traffic stops, search warrants at residences, and an incident linked to an overdose death.
Brown is scheduled for sentencing at a later date and faces up to life imprisonment if given the maximum penalty allowed by law.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Duluth Police Department, Saint Louis County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and Syngen Kanassatega are prosecuting the case.
