Federal grand jury indicts 2 men in connection with fentanyl trafficking on Red Lake Reservation

A federal grand jury indicted two men this week for allegedly distributing fentanyl at the Red Lake Indian Reservation in March and April.

Court documents report 40-year-old Christopher Douglas Richard, of Detroit, Michigan, conspired with others to distribute roughly 40 grams of fentanyl on and near the reservation, according to Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota W. Anders Folk.

Richard was charged with conspiracy and intent to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances.

Separately, Folk stated 52-year-old Leroy Varney, of Bemidji, was found in April with more than 40 grams of fentanyl in his possession, with the intent to distribute it on the reservation.

Varney was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Charges were filed as the result of investigations from the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, among other agencies, Folk stated.