Dejuan Ranier Thornton, 41, and Madison Lynn Endresen, 24, both of Minot, have each been indicted in U.S. District Court on conspiracy to deliver fentanyl, possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, and felon in possession of a firearm charges.

The indictment charges that their illegal activities took place between August and November of this year. As part of the conspiracy, Thornton and Endresen allegedly arranged for the transport of fentanyl from outside the state into North Dakota and also communicated with other people who were to distribute the drug for them.

Endresen and Thornton had both been charged in August in state court with Class B felony intent to deliver fentanyl. Endresen had been admitted to Adult Drug Court on the charge last month and was sentenced to three years in prison on the state court charge, all suspended but 22 days already served in the Ward County Jail, and three years of supervised probation. The state court charge against her co-defendant, Thornton, was dismissed after the grand jury indictment was handed down against both Thornton and Endresen.

Both Thornton and Endresen are in custody at the Ward County Jail in Minot. A detention hearing for both is scheduled for Tuesday in U.S. District Court.