A trial has been scheduled for Nov. 2 in U.S. District Court in Bismarck for some of the alleged co-conspirators in a fentanyl traffic ring that reportedly distributed oxycodone on the Fort Berthold, Turtle Mountain, and Spirit Lake reservations between 2015 and 2019. The ring also reportedly had ties to Detroit, Mich., as have other drug trafficking operations prosecuted in federal court in recent years. The U.S. District Attorney’s Office dubbed this case as “Operation Blue Prairie” and held a press conference to discuss developments last January.

The ring-leaders were allegedly BaQuan Martese Sledge, 33, and Darius Ramon Sledge, 31, both of Detroit, Mich., who were each indicted for participating in a continuing criminal enterprise. Directly under them were a cousin, Dondiago Francisco Jones, 31, and Derrick Eugene Walker, 27, who, along with BaQuan and Darius Sledge, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Numerous others were also indicted in connection with the conspiracy.

BaQuan Sledge is currently in a federal prison in Colorado after having been previously jailed in Grand Forks. According to court documents, there isn’t enough room in prisons in this jurisdiction to house him closer. Theodore Sandberg, a Grand Forks lawyer for BaQuan Sledge, has filed a motion with the court to have him transported to a prison that is closer so that Sandberg can meet with him and prepare for trial. Sandberg argues that the case should be dismissed altogether if Sledge is not returned to North Dakota because his civil rights will have been denied. The prosecution is resisting the motion to return BaQuan Sledge to North Dakota and to dismiss the case. Sledge had previously filed a motion to be released from custody and to live with his family in Detroit prior to the trial, alleging that he has asthma and imprisonment during the COVID-19 pandemic would put him at risk. That motion was denied after the prosecution alleged that Sledge admitted to authorities that he failed to seek medical attention after being shot in Detroit in August 2020 because he was afraid of being arrested on the outstanding warrant, had failed to immediately turn himself in after arranging to do so in March 2020, and that he had told someone he planned to deal narcotics while on pre-trial release and was using a medical excuse that had previously worked for Jones.

Jones was returned to custody pending trial and has been held at the Ward County Jail since April 28. He has been allowed brief furloughs to walk to and from medical appointments from the Ward County Jail for an ongoing medical condition. The Ward County Sheriff’s Office did not have staffing available to accompany him to and from his appointments, according to court documents.