GRAND FORKS, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – Tyler Gregory Thomas, 24, from Belcourt, waived his preliminary hearing, originally set for April 26, in Grand Forks County. He pleaded not guilty to three felony drug charges, including Class A felony possession of over 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, which carries a maximum 20-year sentence. Additionally, Thomas faces Class B felony conspiracy to deliver fentanyl and Class C felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
The charges stem from a controlled fentanyl buy orchestrated by local drug task forces in late January. According to a probable cause statement, Thomas allegedly supplied 12 fentanyl pills for sale and received $300 as payment. The informant claimed Thomas possessed about one ounce of methamphetamine at his residence.
During a search, law enforcement found a smoking device, $300 in marked bills from the controlled buy, and an additional $1,543 in Thomas’s pockets.
Thomas’s case is set for a final dispositional conference on July 18 at 1:30 p.m., marking the next step in his legal proceedings.