Federal prosecutors say a St. Paul man pleaded guilty to criminal charges alleging he smuggled narcotics into several Minnesota state prisons.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis, Walter “Disney” Davis, 40, was tried in U.S. District Court on June 15 and two days later pleaded guilty to all counts.
Authorities said the investigation began in March 2021 after narcotics were smuggled into several Minnesota Department of Corrections prisons, including Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Faribault and Rush City.
Investigators identified Davis as the suspect, and on April 21, 2021, he attempted to send six letters to six DOC inmates. The letters included news articles printed on Strathmore brand high-quality cotton fiber art paper soaked in MDMB-4en-PINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid substance that produces hallucinogenic effects when consumed.
Investigators intercepted the letters and obtained search warrants for two residences frequented by Davis.
At his home in Eagan, investigators seized two bags of fentanyl, $3,000 in cash, digital scales and a .38 caliber handgun. The second location, an apartment in Maplewood, provided over 400 grams of fentanyl, digital scales, a spray bottle containing MDMB-4en-PINACA, a packet of Strathmore paper, and a loaded .357 caliber handgun.
Davis pleaded guilty to one count of attempted distribution of a controlled substance analog, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The DOC and the US Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.
