A Chicago man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation that supplied fentanyl and methamphetamine to northeastern Minnesota, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
Ezell “Cash” Lucas, 34, received a 174-month sentence in U.S. District Court for his leadership role in a conspiracy that transported large quantities of drugs from Chicago to the Duluth area. Lucas was the final defendant sentenced among seven individuals charged in the case.
Prosecutors said that between December 2021 and February 2024, Lucas ran a Chicago-based drug trafficking organization that targeted customers in the Twin Ports region. He coordinated with local distributors in Duluth to establish a customer base and directed associates from Chicago to travel to Duluth and carry out sales.
Authorities said Lucas managed the operation remotely, taking calls from customers and directing them to meet dealers at prearranged locations in Duluth. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 890 grams of fentanyl and 262 grams of methamphetamine during 19 separate incidents, including controlled purchases, traffic stops, search warrants, and a seizure tied to an overdose death.
Alpha News reported in April 2022 on Duluth’s opioid crisis, in which one undercover officer described Duluth as a direct hub to the drug trade for the small towns that surround it. Drug overdose deaths steadily increased from 20 in 2020 to 37 and 35 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. In 2023, Duluth hit a record high with 47 drug overdose deaths in the city. By mid-2025, the Duluth Police Department reported that overdoses and fatal overdoses were trending down from prior year highs.
A federal grand jury indicted Lucas and his co-defendants in February 2024 on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Lucas was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud.
One co-defendant, Carl Brown, 32, of Chicago, went to trial in August 2025 and was convicted by a federal jury. He was later sentenced to 120 months in prison.
The remaining co-defendants pleaded guilty and received prison sentences ranging from 18 months to 120 months. They include Anthony Green (120 months), Matthew Erickson, also known as “EZ” (60 months), Robert Chism (48 months), Deandre Westmoreland (32 months), and Pharoo Withersoon (18 months).
In a statement released through federal prosecutors, Lt. Jason Tanski of the Duluth Police Department and the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force said the case underscores law enforcement’s focus on dismantling drug networks.
“This case sends a clear message: individuals who profit from distributing illegal substances in our community will be identified and prosecuted,” Tanski said, noting that investigators conducted extensive undercover operations over more than a year. He added that removing the organization has had a direct impact on public safety by reducing the supply of dangerous drugs in the community.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Duluth Police Department, LSVOTF, the Saint Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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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.
