Six Defendants Sentenced to Total of 540 Months’ Imprisonment for Role in Conspiracy to Distribute Nearly 30 Kilograms of Fentanyl Pills

MINNEAPOLIS - United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Amanda Jennifer Freeman was sentenced for her role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Freeman was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis on August 4, 2026. Freeman is the sixth and final defendant to be sentenced in United States v. Shiloe Devanglo Nixon et al. The six defendants were sentenced to a total of 540 months in prison.

Together, the actions of these individuals enabled a large-scale flow of fentanyl pills from Arizona into Minnesota. Their roles included sourcing and transporting drugs to storing and redistributing them, forming a coordinated operation responsible for nearly 30 kilograms of fentanyl pills intended for distribution throughout Minnesota and elsewhere.

The defendants received the following sentences:

• Shiloe Devanglo Nixon, 37, of Woodbury, Minnesota: 180 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release for role in conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
• Malik Deronte Nixon, 30, of Woodbury, Minnesota: 180 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release for role in conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
• Ernesto Alexis Seals, 28, of Welch, Minnesota: 120 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release for role in conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
• Justin Keith Banks, 37, of Rush City, Minnesota: 60 months' imprisonment with four years of supervised release for role in conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
• Amanda Jennifer Freeman, 38, of St. Paul, Minnesota: time served with two years of supervised releasefor role in conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
• Zakiya Niajoneu Whitney, 25, of San Tan Valley, Arizona: time served with two years of supervised release for role in conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

According to court documents, beginning in September 2023 and continuing through on or about March 2024, Shiloe Nixon and Malik Nixon, conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Shiloe Nixon and Malik Nixon enlisted others to bring fentanyl pills from their source in Arizona to the Twin Cities. Once the pills arrived in the Twin Cities, the Nixons distributed them to lower-level dealers, who then distributed the pills to others.

On February 5, 2024, the Nixons received a shipment of fentanyl pills from Freeman, who drove the pills from Arizona to the Twin Cities and stored the pills at a rental home in St. Paul, Minnesota. The next day, police executed a search warrant of the rental home and seized almost 9.7 kilograms of fentanyl pills.

Roughly a month later, a New Mexico State Police trooper stopped Whitney's car on Interstate 40. Whitney consented to a search of her car, and the trooper seized roughly 10 kilograms of fentanyl pills. Those pills were supposed to be delivered to the Nixons and were intended for further distribution in Minnesota.

Finally, just weeks after the New Mexico seizure, Shiloe Nixon and Malik Nixon were driving back to Minnesota from Phoenix where they had picked up roughly 9.7 kilograms of fentanyl pills from their source. A Minnesota State Patrol trooper stopped the Nixons' car, searched it, and found the pills divided among nine clear plastic bags and concealed in a backpack.

In addition to the Nixons, Freeman, and Whitney, co-conspirators in the operation included Ernesto Seals, and Justin Banks.

From September 2023 through November 2023, Ernesto Seals was regularly supplied with fentanyl pills that he distributed to others. On November 7, 2023, police executed a search warrant of Seals' home and found a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol that he possessed in connection with his fentanyl distribution.

From October 2023 through November 2023, Justin Banks obtained fentanyl pills from his supplier and distributed them to his customers.

Shiloe Nixon, Malik Nixon, and Banks had multiple prior felony convictions. Shiloe Nixon's criminal history includes a 2014 conviction for first-degree aggravated robbery, a 2013 conviction for third-degree burglary, and a 2009 conviction for first-degree aggravated robbery. Malik Nixon's criminal history includes a 2017 conviction for second-degree aggravated robbery and a 2016 conviction for third-degree assault. Banks has a 2015 conviction for aiding and abetting the solicitation of a person under the age of 18 years to practice prostitution, a 2015 conviction for felony theft, and a 2013 conviction for domestic assault by strangulation.

"These sentences demonstrate my office's commitment to investigate and take down fentanyl trafficking operations. The coordinated efforts of our law enforcement partners ensured that those responsible were prosecuted and held accountable," said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

"A priority of the Dakota County Drug Task Force is to hold accountable those who choose to distribute fentanyl in our communities. This case highlights the dedication of our agents and federal partners in investigating and prosecuting those who traffic this deadly drug. The Task Force would like to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for their collaboration and commitment to this case," said Captain Joshua Fahey, Commander of the Dakota County Drug Task Force.

"The sentencing in this case reflects the serious consequences of trafficking dangerous narcotics into our communities. The Minnesota State Patrol is proud of the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by our troopers, whose work contributed to the successful seizure of a significant quantity of fentanyl pills and supported our federal law enforcement partners in holding those responsible accountable. This outcome is a testament to the value of strong partnerships between local, state and federal law enforcement and our shared commitment to protecting the public from the devastating impact of illicit drugs," said Colonel Christina Bogojevic, Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol.

"This was a sizable load of fentanyl that could have caused tremendous harm in our communities. I'm proud of the work our officers did and grateful for our partnership with the Department of Justice in Minnesota and all the law enforcement agencies involved. The New Mexico State Police always has, and will continue to, work alongside our law enforcement partners across state lines to hold traffickers accountable and keep these deadly drugs off our streets," said New Mexico State Police Chief Matthew Broom.

"Drug trafficking conspiracies are built on individual choices, and every person who agrees to play a part helps move dangerous drugs closer to our communities," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Olson of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. "After years in law enforcement, I have seen how quickly one bad decision can alter the course of a life. With all defendants now sentenced, we remain committed to working with our federal and local partners to disrupt the flow of fentanyl into Minnesota."

"Nearly 30 kilograms of fentanyl pills represents an extraordinary threat to public safety. Thanks to the outstanding work of investigators and prosecutors, that threat was stopped before it could cause further devastation in Minnesota communities," said Michael McCarthy, Special Agent in Charge of HSI St. Paul. "I commend our federal, state, and local partners for their tireless efforts to dismantle this operation and protect the public from the lethal impact of fentanyl."

This case was the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the Minnesota State Patrol, the New Mexico State Police, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Police Department, and other law enforcement partners.

Assistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.