A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to supply drugs to occupants of a Minneapolis homeless encampment.
Anthony Akemu Abari, 41, was found guilty by a jury in January following an 11-day trial on one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of heroin laced with fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of heroin laced with fentanyl, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, since 2018, Abari and others participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin laced with fentanyl to individuals living in a large homeless encampment along Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis.
Abari and co-defendant Relondo Devon Hall, 37, stopped there on a daily basis at times to distribute drugs they obtained from Kevin Termell Green, 38.
Original charges say in January 2019, law enforcement received information that there was drug dealing going on at a Minneapolis residence. A search warrant was executed at the residence where they found Abari with 100 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, a gun, and two phones connecting him to drug dealing. In April 2019, law enforcement received additional information that Abari was in possession of heroin and a firearm. Upon execution of a search warrant, they found Abari in the basement where they also recovered 20 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl.
In July of 2019, upon execution of another search warrant, law enforcement seized 298 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl belonging to Green. Green had been supplying Abari and others with heroin laced with fentanyl from at least December 2018 and continuing into July 2019.
Kevin Termell Green, 38 (L) & Anthony Akemu Abari, 41 (R), both of #Mpls, found guilty by a jury in federal court on multiple counts of drug dealing + conspiracy to distribute. Abari also convicted on felon in possession of a firearm.
Complaint: Supplied drugs to homeless camp. pic.twitter.com/YzioSyyyvs— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) January 25, 2022
Green was convicted along with Abari in January. Co-defendant Hall pleaded guilty on July 30, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
A Minneapolis resident living next to an encampment in the Phillips neighborhood previously told Alpha News that drug dealers and human traffickers “pretty much terrorize the encampment and the people living around the encampment.”
“If you complain, you get the activists who complain about how heartless you are. Then you also get the violent criminal element that’s threatening you. Those threats have become more and more real,” she said.
Abari’s case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Federal prisoners must serve a minimum of 85% of their sentence before being considered for parole. Abari’s sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
