Hopkins Man Indicted For Distributing Fentanyl Causing The Deaths Of Eleven People

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment against AARON RHY BROUSSARD, 28, charging him with twenty-one counts related to the distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl, which resulted in the deaths of eleven people and caused serious bodily injury to four people. BROUSSARD will be arraigned on these charges before a Magistrate Judge in U.S. District Court at a later date. On December 6, 2016, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania indicted BROUSSARD on one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and he is scheduled to stand trial on those charges on May 14, 2019. BROUSSARD was arrested on December 7, 2016, and is in custody in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

According to the allegations in the indictment, from 2014 through December 6, 2016, BROUSSARD obtained controlled substances, including fentanyl, from China-based drug suppliers. Upon receipt, BROUSSARD repackaged the controlled substances, marketed them for sale, and sold them to customers in the United States. BROUSSARD used various websites to market the controlled substances including PlantFoodUSA.Net, and distributed the controlled substances to customers using the United States mail and a United States Postal Service “Click-N-Ship” account.

According to the allegations in the indictment, on March 12, 2016, BROUSSARD placed a drug order for 100 grams of 4-FA, a controlled substance, which was shipped from China and contained approximately 100 grams of fentanyl. Between April 1 and April 27, 2016, BROUSSARD sent packages containing fentanyl to multiple customers throughout the United States. After ingesting the controlled substance received from BROUSSARD, eleven of the customers died from a fentanyl overdose and four customers suffered serious bodily injury. BROUSSARD continued to distribute controlled substances to customers even after learning that some had overdosed.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the University of Minnesota Police Department, the Peoria Heights (Illinois) Police Department, the Hazel Green (Wisconsin) Police Department, the Dallas (Texas) Police Department, the Broome County (New York) Sheriff’s Office, the Velusia County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County (California) Sheriff’s Office, and the Atlanta (Georgia) Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst is prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

AARON RHY BROUSSARD, 28

Hopkins, Minn.

Charges:

• Drug conspiracy resulting in death/serious bodily injury, 1 count
• Importation of 40+ grams of fentanyl, 1 count
• Possession with intent to distribute 40+ grams of fentanyl, 1 count
• Distribution resulting in death/serious bodily injury, 12 counts
• Possession with intent to distribute controlled substance analogues, 5 counts
• Possession With Intent To Distribute 4-EMC, 1 count

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600