A Duluth resident, Diaunte Jevon Shields, has been sentenced to 167 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in narcotics trafficking. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
Court documents reveal that on February 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Shields's residence in Duluth, Minnesota. Officers discovered over a kilogram of fentanyl, a pound of methamphetamine, and hundreds of grams of cocaine in his apartment. A gun and loaded magazine were also found within the same cooler as the drugs. Additional evidence such as cutting agents and packing materials was uncovered inside the apartment. Furthermore, another kilogram-plus of cocaine was found in a FedEx box intended for Shields. At the time of his arrest, Shields had over $33,000 in cash on him.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office proudly serves all of Minnesota, from our big cities to our small towns,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Defendant Shields trafficked deadly poison to our community in Duluth—and now will be off the streets for well more than a decade.”
Shields pleaded guilty on August 22, 2024, to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. His sentencing took place yesterday in U.S. District Court under Judge Katherine M. Menendez.
The investigation leading to this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Duluth Police Department. Assistance was provided by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.
