Fargo, North Dakota (trfnews.i234.me) – A 34-year-old Fargo man, Karmen Charles Fox, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for operating a deadly fentanyl distribution ring that supplied thousands of pills across North Dakota and led to a fatal overdose on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation.
Fox was sentenced Friday, July 18, by Chief Judge Peter Welte on several charges, including conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, distribution resulting in death, illegal firearm possession, and money laundering. The sentencing follows his March 19 conviction by a federal jury, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl.
Investigators say Fox sold fentanyl pills using CashApp and other platforms, working with co-defendants Scott Roberts, Kristin Carrington, Chasity Lynn Feather, and Aiana Richotte. In December 2022, Fox gave over 100 pills to Feather and Richotte, who transported them from Fargo to Devils Lake for resale. While there, Richotte and a local woman smoked one of the pills — the woman later died from an overdose.
A subsequent search of their hotel room led to the seizure of $1,200 in cash and 175 fentanyl pills. Richotte and Feather were arrested on December 13, 2022.
Later, on November 21, 2023, law enforcement raided Fox’s Fargo residence, finding methamphetamine, heroin, three firearms, and a large quantity of ammunition. Due to prior felonies, Fox was legally barred from owning guns.
“This defendant prioritized financial gain over human life,” said Puhl. “Let this serve as a warning: if you distribute dangerous narcotics that lead to death, you will face the full force of the law.”
Fox’s co-conspirators were also sentenced: Roberts received 10 years, Carrington three and a half years, Richotte two years and four months, and Feather awaits sentencing.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.