A St. Paul man has been convicted by a federal jury after authorities intercepted more than 50,000 fentanyl pills being sent to him.

After a three-day trial in U.S. District Court, Kurtis Lavonte Gordon-Greenwood, 30, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

The investigation into the St. Paul drug ring began in 2022 when law enforcement intercepted a UPS package to Gordon-Greenwood. The package, sent from Arizona, contained about 50,000 fentanyl pills, or more than five kilograms.

While searching his apartment, officers also found a shipping receipt for a FedEx package sent to Phoenix that contained three cell phones and a Taurus 9mm pistol with an extended magazine. Authorities in Phoenix intercepted the FedEx package to Phoenix and also found $8,240 cash inside.

“Firearms and drugs are a deadly combination – make no mistake that lives will be saved with Gordon-Greenwood off the streets,” Kirkpatrick said about the conviction. “Drugs are trafficked to Minnesota by air, vehicle or through the mail, as we saw in this case.”

Two co-defendants, Joshua Lanard Howse, 33, and Cornelius David Pierce, 34, also of St. Paul, have pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

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