Johnnie Deandre Farley, 37, and David Gordon Watson, 37, have been indicted on federal charges including conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of fentanyl in June and July. Farley was also indicted on a charge of intent to distribute 100 grams or more of fentanyl on July 19. Watson was also indicted on a charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in October 2018 and on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm in December 2018.

Farley, who is in from Detroit, had originally been charged in district court in Minot in July with Class B felony intent to deliver fentanyl, Class B felony intent to deliver Schedule II opiates, Class C felony possession of drug paraphernalia, and Class A misdemeanor resisting arrest.

According to court documents, Amtrak police tipped off authorities that Farley, using a fake name, had purchased a ticket from Detroit to Minot and had made a previous trip to Minot on July 2. Amtrak police routinely notify the task force in cases involving apparent trafficking of narcotics, according to the affidavit. Detroit is a major hub for narcotics and Minot, though smaller, is also notable as a hub for narcotics. Farley got off the train carrying a single duffle bag and then walked to the Super 8 Motel, which is also regarded as a popular location for narcotics traffickers. Police followed Farley, who acted nervous, attempted to flee and physically resisted arrest. His bag was searched and its main compartment contained a small foil packet which had “KEBO’ printed on it, as well as instructions for mixing it with marijuana; a jar labeled “Chik-fil-haze” containing suspected marijuana; and a silver scale with suspected drug residue. The compartment contained a black gym sock which contained a plastic baggie with three intact cylinders of a tan powder substance and a broken cylinder of a tan powder substance that were consistent with pressed fentanyl “pucks.” The suspected fentanyl weighed a combined 100.98 grams. The total weight, if unadulterated, would be about 1,000 normal street doses of fentanyl, according to the affidavit.

Another baggie contained 11 smaller tied baggies with 1,012 individual 30-milligram oxycodone hydrochloride pills. The pills were in 10 bags of 100 each and one small baggie of 12. Farley’s duffle bag also included a small notebook with 234 gm or 239 gm written on the front page. According to the affidavit, Farley admitted that he had been paid to bring the narcotics into Minot.

According to the federal indictment, Watson is accused of conspiring, with Farley and others, to arrange for the transport of the fentanyl into North Dakota. Watson has also previously been charged in district court in Minot with dealing drugs in the Minot area.