Three Individuals Sentenced for Selling Meth on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation

GRAND FORKS - U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on May 9, 2013, Fulton Merrick, Jr., Garrick Mini, and Rayone Sherman, were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson on charges of distribution of a controlled substance.

Merrick, Jr., 37, Devils Lake, N.D., pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, 2013, to distributing a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in August of 2011. Judge Erickson sentenced Merrick, Jr., to 21 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised
release. Merrick, Jr., was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.

Mini, 32, Devils Lake, ND, pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, 2013, to distributing methamphetamine in August of 2011. Judge Erickson sentenced Mini to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Mini was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

Sherman, 44, Fort Totten, N.D., pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, 2013, to distributing a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in May of 2011. Judge Erickson sentenced Sherman to 13 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Sherman was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

The incidents occurred on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Devils Lake Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Janice M. Morley prosecuted the case.