GRAND FORKS COUNTY, ND (trfnews.i234.me)—A Dunseith woman has been sentenced to six years in prison for her role in trafficking nearly 200 grams of fentanyl, intending to distribute it on the Turtle Mountain Reservation.
Case Background
📌 Defendant: Darla Rae Belgarde, 37
📌 Arrest Date: October 25, 2024
📌 Charges:
✔️ Class A Felony – Possession of 40+ grams of fentanyl with intent to deliver
✔️ Class C Felony – Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia
Belgarde was driving a vehicle that was pulled over in Grand Forks County, where law enforcement suspected one of the passengers had traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to obtain fentanyl for resale on Turtle Mountain Reservation.
Belgarde initially claimed she was unaware of the drugs in the vehicle. However, during a December preliminary hearing, a judge ruled against dropping the charges, leading to a guilty plea through a plea agreement in early 2025.
Sentencing & Probation
💼 Sentence: 20 years with the North Dakota Department of Corrections
⏳ To Serve: 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised probation
🚨 Probation Violation Risk: If Belgarde violates probation, she could be required to serve the remaining 14 years.
Additional Court Conditions
✔️ Chemical dependency evaluation & follow-up treatment
✔️ Credit for 101 days already served
Co-Defendants Maintain Innocence
Belgarde’s co-defendants have not pleaded guilty and maintain their innocence as the case against them continues.
This case is part of ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat fentanyl distribution in North Dakota, which has been a growing crisis in the region.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRFNews