Red Lake Man Indicted for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm

MINNEAPOLIS—A federal indictment unsealed today charges a 48-year-old Red Lake man with possessing with intent to distribute marijuana as well as possessing a firearm in support of drug trafficking. Keith Brian Donnell was charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The indictment, which was filed on November 22, 2011, was unsealed following Donnell’s initial appearance in federal court.

The indictment alleges that on April 14, 2011, Donnell possessed with intent to distribute more than two kilograms of marijuana. In addition, it alleges that Donnell also possessed a firearm. The marijuana and firearm were seized during the execution of a search warrant of Donnell’s residence on April 14.

If convicted, Donnell faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison on the firearm possession count and five years on the marijuana count. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the Safe Trails and Paul Bunyan Drug task forces, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.