Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) – 38-year-old Nicholas Walter Johnson has been sentenced in a felony drug case.
Johnson received a 65-month state prison sentence for first-degree sale of a controlled substance.
The case was heard in the Minnesota District Court in Pennington County.
According to the criminal complaint, the Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force had been investigating Johnson for meth sales.
On August 22, 2023, a confidential informant told investigators that Johnson wanted to sell 28 grams of methamphetamine.
Investigators arranged a controlled buy using the informant.
The informant was given $2,000 in recorded buy money to purchase the drugs.
Plans were made for the sale to take place in Red Lake Falls.
During the operation, the meeting location changed several times.
The sale finally happened in the 15000 block of Terry Street in Thief River Falls.
After the deal, law enforcement recovered the meth from the informant.
The drugs weighed 29.8 grams, slightly more than the planned amount.
A jury trial began on October 8.
On October 9, the jury found Johnson guilty of the felony sale charge.
First-degree sale of a controlled substance is one of Minnesota’s most serious drug offenses.
As part of the sentence, Johnson faces long-term legal limits on weapons and explosives.
He is banned for life from using or owning firearms, ammunition, or explosives.
He was also ordered to provide a DNA sample for state records.
Johnson must pay $210 in court fines and fees.
Information about Minnesota drug laws and penalties is available from state resources.
Details on first-degree controlled substance crimes can be found in the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
Court process information is also posted by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
Johnson will serve his sentence under the supervision of the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
After release, he is expected to follow supervised release conditions ordered by the court and corrections officials.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
