21 charged with selling drugs from Chicago in Duluth and beyond
Jan 27, 2022 06:49AM ● By Editor
The Duluth Police Department says 21 people have been charged for being part of a Drug Trafficking Organization that brought heroin and fentanyl from Chicago to Duluth and the larger region.
The drugs were allegedly sold in Duluth, Cloquet, and throughout St. Louis and Carlton counties, along with the Fond du Lac and Bad River reservations. They made their way into Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
The Lake Superior Drug & Violent Crime Task Force has been investigating this particular trafficking organization since June 2021, according to a press release.
Duluth Police accuse 23-year-old Nicholas Calloway of Chicago of being the leader. They say he "directed the transportation of heroin and fentanyl from Chicago where it was distributed to midlevel drug dealers in the area."
They say he was supplied by Demetrius McCafferty, a 34-year-old from Chicago. Both of them are in the Cook County Jail in Chicago. They will be extradited to Minnesota.
Authorities used undercover investigators "to infiltrate the organization." They made 20 undercover purchases from various people.
The Task Force said between June and December 2021, the trafficking organization was responsible for bringing and selling over 10 pounds of heroin and fentanyl. That amounts to $725,000 worth or about 18,000 doses.
So far, 14 of the 21 people charged are in custody. They are:
- Nicholas Calloway, 23, Chicago
- Demetrius McCafferty, 34, Chicago
- Jerome Falkner, 24, Chicago
- Michael Berg, 26, Duluth
- Jolisa Henagin, 22, Cloquet
- Madison Pallin, 25, Cloquet
- Amber Wait, 37, Cloquet
- Jonas Treston Starkey, 27, Eveleth
- Hailie Pralle, 23, Ashland
- Michelle Jacobson, 33, Duluth
- Brock Jensen, 24, Duluth
- Brodey Jensen, 24, Duluth
- Mark Scharnott, 33, Duluth
- Alexis Steltz, 24, Duluth
Arrest warrants are out for:
- Chad Mims, 22, Chicago
- Melvin Little, 25, Chicago
- Terry Sallay, 22, Chicago
- Montavian Oliver, 24, Pickens, Miss.
- Zachery Morris Jr., 22, Minneapolis
- Ryan Vincent, 38, Duluth
- Leonard Kochevar, 39, Gilbert
"Dismantling a (Drug Trafficking Organization) of this scale limits the source of supply of these poisons to the people of St. Louis County and the City of Duluth and undoubtedly saved lives," Chief Mike Tusken said in a press release.
Some of them also face charges for robbery, conspiracy to commit arson, and first-degree arson.
To see the original post and read related stories, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website. https://www.wdio.com/news/charges-selling-drug-trafficking-chicago-duluth/6370486/
