Minneapolis Man Sentenced To Prison For Heroin Trafficking, Resulting In The Shooting Deaths Of Two Individuals On The Red Lake Reservation

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of BRYAN BOARDMAN, a/k/a “Boon,” 25, to 78 months in prison for his role in a heroin distribution conspiracy that resulted in the shooting deaths of two individuals. BOARDMAN, who pleaded guilty on April 23, 2019, was sentenced before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in Saint Paul, Minnesota. BOARDMAN’s co-defendants FRANKLIN JACKSON, 23, was sentenced on September 11, 2019, to 21 months in prison, and KRISTOPHER SULLIVAN, 24, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2019.

“Today’s sentence underscores our message that drug trafficking and gun violence will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald. “Combatting violent crime in our Native American communities remains a top priority for my office. We are committed to working with our tribal law enforcement partners to improve public safety in Indian Country.” 

“This defendant and his co-conspirators are in prison thanks to the good work of the Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force,” said Jill Sanborn, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis field office. “This task force in northern Minnesota targets, disrupts and dismantles violent crime of all kinds including the sale and distribution of heroin. The FBI and its task force partners will continue to work these cases with urgency,” she said.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, between October 1, 2018, and October 21, 2018, BOARDMAN, JACKSON, and SULLIVAN conspired with each other to distribute heroin on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. In the early morning hours of October 21, 2018, BOARDMAN, JACKSON, and SULLIVAN met in a trailer home on the Red Lake Indian Reservation belonging to JACKSON’s girlfriend. The three defendants made preparations to sell heroin later that day, including contacting potential customers to let them know that heroin was available for sale at the trailer home. The defendants’ drug trafficking activities were interrupted at approximately 6:30 a.m. that morning when three armed, masked men broke into the trailer home in an apparent armed robbery. BOARDMAN drew a 9 millimeter pistol and fired eight shots, killing two of the intruders. The third intruder was wounded in the leg by the gunfire and fled from the scene.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey S. Paulsen and Julie E. Allyn are prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

BRYAN BOARDMAN, a/k/a “Boon,” 25

Minneapolis, Minn.

Convicted:

• Conspiracy to distribute heroin, 1 count
• Using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, 1 count

Sentenced:

• 78 months in prison
• Five years of supervised release

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600