A man allegedly rented a car in Los Angeles and arranged to have it hauled back to Minnesota with two kilograms of fentanyl hidden in the trunk.
That’s according to a criminal complaint filed this week in Ramsey County.
Marel Chrishaun Octavier Johnson, 40, faces a charge of first-degree drug possession in connection with the interstate trafficking scheme. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
According to the complaint, Johnson flew from the Twin Cities to Los Angeles on March 13. Two days later he rented a 2025 Nissan Altima from Avis at Los Angeles International Airport and scheduled a return to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on March 24.
Johnson flew back to the Twin Cities on March 17, without the rental car.
On March 20, the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped a semi-truck hauling the Altima during a vehicle inspection. The driver consented to a search of the car, and officers found two separate kilogram packages of drugs in the trunk. Both tested positive for fentanyl.
Investigators learned that a man identified as "Chris" had met a vehicle hauler at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel and agreed to pay $1,000 to have the Altima delivered to a Target store in Roseville. The hauler took photos of "Chris" and the car before handing it off to a second transporter.
On March 23, officers replaced one of the kilogram packages. The hauler communicated with the phone number "Chris" had provided and was told he would receive cash on delivery.
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The hauler arrived at a location on Highway 36 in Roseville at 11:55 a.m. and unloaded the Altima. At 12:34 p.m., Johnson walked through the Target parking lot toward the car, met the hauler and inspected the Nissan. An arrest team moved in and took him into custody.
Officers found a business card from the Westin Hotel in Johnson's wallet. The hauler told investigators Johnson appeared to be the same person in the photos taken in Los Angeles.
Johnson was read his rights and agreed to speak with officers. When told that investigators knew he had rented the Altima and shipped it back to himself with drugs inside, he asked for a lawyer.
Court records show Johnson has prior convictions for first-degree assault and third-degree assault in Minnesota and a federal conviction for felon in possession of a firearm. He also has an active warrant out of Shelby County, Ohio, on charges of possessing between 1,000 and 5,000 grams of marijuana.
