A man still on probation after being convicted last year in a fentanyl possession case has been newly charged with illegal gun possession and is accused of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine from his Uptown Minneapolis residence. However, instead of being held on a probation violation, a Gov. Tim Walz-appointed judge has released him back into the community on bail.
Garey Lavell Howze, 27, is newly charged in Hennepin County District Court with two counts of first-degree drug sales, two counts of first-degree drug possession, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Charges say Howze was under investigation this spring following reports of cocaine and fentanyl being trafficked out of the duplex where he was residing on the 3200 block of Hennepin Avenue.
A warrant was executed at the residence last week by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), and Howze was detained as he exited the residence. Howze repeatedly refused directives from officers and resisted attempts to be placed in handcuffs, the complaint states.
During a search of the residence, law enforcement located six firearms, over 392 grams of fentanyl and cocaine, an additional 9.3 grams of fentanyl in two locations, and over $345,000 in currency.
Howze is prohibited from possessing firearms based on prior felony convictions, including a 2025 conviction on third-degree drug possession involving fentanyl. In that case, Howze was offered a plea deal by Mary Moriarty’s office, which downgraded the charge from second-degree possession and offered a stayed 21-month prison sentence. Howze was placed on probation for three years, until June 2028, by Judge Mark Kappelhoff.
A probation violation in the prior case was triggered against Howze following the new charges, according to court filings. An offender can be held without bail in Minnesota pending a revocation hearing following an alleged probation violation, based on a “preponderance of evidence” that probation was violated.
However, Judge Matthew Wilcox on Monday ordered Howze conditionally released on $25,000 in the combined cases. Records show bail was posted and Howze was released from custody Tuesday afternoon.
After publication, Judge Wilcox reached out to Alpha News to say Howze’s release includes several court-ordered conditions, including electronic home monitoring/house arrest and random testing while the case is pending. Wilcox did not respond to a follow-up question about why he decided to release Howze instead of having him held without bail.
Howze is next scheduled to appear in court in both cases on November 3.
This article was updated with a comment Judge Matthew Wilcox.
– – –
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.
