Jason Joey Berry, 39, of Montreal, Canada, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and import it into the United States, resulting in grievous bodily harm and death. The criminal conspiracy involved the distribution of fentanyl and other similar substances from Canada and China to the United States, resulting in 15 overdoses, four of which were fatal.
According to court documents, Berry organized the distribution of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues in the United States and elsewhere while he was incarcerated in a Canadian prison. Berry led the conspiracy in Canada with fellow inmate Daniel Vivas Ceron, 41, who pleaded guilty in July 2019 to continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues resulting in bodily harm serious bodily harm and death, and money laundering. This investigation began in North Dakota on January 3, 2015, with the overdose death in Grand Forks, North Dakota of Bailey Henke.
“Jason Berry was part of a fentanyl trafficking ring that contributed to the opioid epidemic plaguing our communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Justice. “This case sends a clear message that the Criminal Division is committed to protecting these communities, curbing the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl, and holding accountable drug dealers who seek to profit from addiction.”
Berry pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and analogues of controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death, and conspiracy to import controlled substances and analogues of controlled substances in the United States resulting in serious bodily injury and death. He is expected to be sentenced on January 17, 2023 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering US sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Other defendants charged in federal court in connection with this investigation include:
District of North Dakota
- Jian Zhang, aka Hong Kong Zaron, 43, from China; Xuan Cahn Nguyen, aka Jackie and Jackie Chan, 42, from Quebec Canada; Marie Um, aka Angry Bird, 41, from Quebec, Canada; and Vannek Um, 44, of Quebec, Canada were charged in a superseded indictment issued on January 18, 2018, with drug trafficking conspiracy. Also charged with international money laundering conspiracy, Na Chu, 41; Yeyou Chu, 40 years old; Cuying Liu, 66; and Keping Zhang, 66, all Chinese nationals. On May 31, Nguyen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and import fentanyl and fentanyl analogs and conspiracy to launder money;
- On March 22, 2018, Steven Barros Pinto, aka Yeaboy, 41, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues resulting in grievous bodily harm and death, conspiracy to import controlled substances and analogues of controlled substances into the United States resulting in grievous bodily harm and death, and prosecution of the criminal enterprise. On November 28, 2018, a superseding indictment was filed adding the charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to money laundering. On July 9, 2021, a federal jury convicted Pinto of conspiracy to import and distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, prosecution of a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to launder money, and multiple obstruction charges. He was sentenced on October 14, 2021 to serve 400 months in federal prison;
- Brandon Corde Hubbard, 47, of Portland, Oregon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances causing serious bodily injury and death, distributing a controlled substance causing death, and conspiracy to launder money. He was sentenced on July 13, 2016 to a federal life sentence;
- Ryan Jon Jensen, 27, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, pleaded guilty on February 27, 2015 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in grievous bodily harm and death, a controlled substance distribution leader resulting in death, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in grievous bodily harm and money laundering conspiracy. He was sentenced on February 1, 2016 to 240 months in federal prison;
- Joshua Tyler Fulp, 27, of Grand Forks, pleaded guilty on June 23, 2015 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in grievous bodily harm and death. He was sentenced to serve 144 months in federal prison;
- Kain Daniel Schwandt, 26, of Grand Forks, pleaded guilty on July 24, 2015 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on January 25, 2016 to 42 months in federal prison;
- David Todd Noye Jr., 121, of Grand Forks, pleaded guilty on May 4, 2015 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on January 25, 2016 to 39 months in federal prison;
- Jameson Robert Sele, 27, of Grand Forks, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on July 27, 2015, to 36 months in federal prison;
- Braden James Foley, 35, of Olympia, Wash., pleaded guilty on August 11, 2016 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on November 21, 2016 to 30 months in federal prison;
- Anthony Santos Gomes, 37, from Rhode Island and Davie, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues causing grievous bodily harm and death and a money laundering conspiracy. In addition to pleading guilty, Gomes agreed to confiscate a residence located in Davie, Florida; $162,836.00 in cash; a 2007 Maserati Quattroporte; a 2017 Polaris Sportsman XP ATV; and matching jewelry valued at $64,725.00. He was sentenced on July 30, 2021 to serve 360 months in federal prison;
- Amanda Schneider, 32, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., pleaded guilty on September 17, 2018 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances. She was sentenced on January 17, 2019 to serve 15 months in federal prison;
- Keveen Nobre, 32, of Providence, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty on October 10, 2018 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on April 17, 2019, to 30 months in federal prison;
- Robinson Gomez, 39, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on January 10, 2019 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on April 17, 2019 to serve 180 months in federal prison;
- David Campbell, 61, of Plantation, Florida, pleaded guilty on January 10, 2019 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on April 17, 2019 to serve 120 months in federal prison;
- Louis Bell, 34, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., pleaded guilty on November 8, 2018 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on April 18, 2019 to serve 201 months in federal prison;
- Elizabeth Ton, 31, of Davie, Florida, pleaded guilty on June 18, 2018 to money laundering conspiracy. She was sentenced on March 8, 2019 to serve 41 months in federal prison; and
- Danny Gamboa, 25, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty on January 10, 2019 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on April 17, 2019 to 25 months in federal prison.
District of Oregon
- Channing Lacey, 35, of Portland, Oregon, pleaded guilty on March 28, 2017 to a controlled substance dispensing boss causing grievous bodily harm to three people and a controlled substance dispensing boss causing the death. She was sentenced on August 28, 2017 to serve 135 months in federal prison;
- Steven Fairbanks Locke, 46, of Portland, pleaded guilty on June 14, 2017 to using a means of communication to facilitate a drug offense. He was sentenced on September 4, 2019 to time served; and
- Carissa Marie Laprall, 27 years old, from Portland, pleaded guilty on March 28, 2017 to three counts of distributing a controlled substance causing grievous bodily harm. She was sentenced on January 30, 2022 to time served.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Postal Inspection Service, Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force, IRS Criminal Investigation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Portland Police Bureau – Narcotics and Organized Crime Division, Oregon/Idaho HIDTA Interdiction Task Force, Oregon State Police and Grand Forks Police Department. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
Trial Attorneys Kaitlin Sahni and Imani Hutty of the Criminal Division’s Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Myers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin of the US Attorney’s office for the District of Oregon are pursuing the case.
