Otis Burks, a resident of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, has been indicted on charges related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
Court documents reveal that on March 12, 2025, Otis Dair Burks, 43, was discovered in possession of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, and a Smith & Wesson 9mm semiautomatic pistol. Due to Burks' prior felony convictions, including aggravated robbery and kidnapping, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
“Narcotics poison our communities and firearms continue to plague our streets with unfortunate—often deadly—consequences for all involved,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. She added that Burks' history of violent crime and the efforts of law enforcement partners have made Minnesota safer with him off the streets.
Rafael Mattei, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Omaha Division, commented on the indictment, saying, “Today’s indictment is the first step toward removing a violent, drug trafficking criminal from our community. No good can come from a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, and firearms. Too often, weapons are used to further drug trafficking which in turn, robs people of their money, and also potentially, their lives. We’re grateful to our law enforcement partners for their assistance in removing this threat from our Minnesota streets.”
Burks is charged with several offenses, including possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, illegal possession of a firearm as a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on April 10, 2025.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
