Grand Forks Resident Sentenced in Fentanyl Conspiracy Operation Denial

FARGO - U S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on Jan. 26, 2016, Joshua Tyler Fulp, 20, Grand Forks, N.D., was sentenced before U. S. District Judge to serve 12 years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Death. Judge Erickson also sentenced Fulp to 36 months supervised release and to pay $17,264 restitution jointly and severally with other co-defendants, as well as pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund.

Beginning in January 2014, Fulp and a co-defendant’s began receiving shipments of fentanyl from Oregon. The investigation started in North Dakota on Jan. 3, 2015, with the overdose death of 18-year-old Bailey Henke of Grand Forks. The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force began investigating what would become known as "Operation Denial," which alleges that the drugs and substances were obtained from Canada and China.

On Jan. 25, 2016, Judge Erickson also sentenced co-defendants David Todd Noye Jr., 19, Grand Forks, ND, to 39 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release, and also Kain Daniel Schwandt, 20, Grand Forks, ND, to 42 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Portland Oregon Police Bureau – Drugs and Vice Division, Portland HIDTA Interdiction Task Force, Oregon State Police, and the Grand Forks Police Department.

U. S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers and AUSA Scott Schneider are prosecuted the case.