Minneapolis man sentenced to 17 years for running drugs while incarcerated at Grand Forks County Jail

GRAND FORKS (KNOX) – A Minneapolis man who directed a drug conspiracy from the Grand Forks County Jail has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison.

According to the U-S Attorney’s Office, 57-year-old Timothy Eason was sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Money Laundering Conspiracy.

Eason was arrested on state drug charges in 2021 and held in Grand Forks County Jail.

From October 2021 to February 2022, Eason used the jail’s communication facilities to arrange shipments of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Arizona to distributors in Fargo, Moorhead and elsewhere.

Eason and co-conspirators arranged payment for the controlled substances through cash apps.

Three co-conspirators were previously sentenced, including 43-year-old Tiffany Johnson of Moorhead, sentenced to four-and-a-half years… 26-year-old Ashtyn Gladue of Rolla (ND), sentenced to three-and-a-half years… and 47-year-old Alfonso Patrick of Arizona, who received an eight-year sentence.

When his term is up, Eason must also serve five years’ supervised release.

Story by Pat Sweeney / KNOX