Two Minneapolis Men Sentenced for Trafficking Narcotics Between California and Minnesota Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota Dateline: St. Paul, Minnesota Date: 15 March 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic: Interstate Highway System

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Two men have been sentenced to prison for possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to the defendants’ plea agreements and court documents, beginning at least as early as January 2023, Cortez Ananias Williams, 24, was involved in trafficking controlled substances between California and Minnesota with his co-defendant and cousin Savontray Orlando Dwayne Collins, 23. On February 13, 2024, law enforcement intercepted Collins and Williams on I-35 near the Minnesota-Iowa border with 4.4 kilograms of “M30” fentanyl pills and nearly one kilogram of cocaine.  

On June 28, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and was sentenced on December 14, 2023, in U.S. District Court by Judge Jerry W. Blackwell to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Collins pleaded guilty on October 4, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. He was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release by Judge Blackwell.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Shnider prosecuted the case.

Updated March 15, 2024