An 18-year-old Grand Forks man entered a guilty plea in federal court for his role in a drug conspiracy case tied to several recent drug overdoses.
David Todd Noye Jr. pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Fargo to an amended charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
His attorney, Lynn Slaathaug Moen of Mayville, told the Herald that prosecutors amended the charge alleging distribution resulting in serious bodily injury or death.
Noye is one of at least five people named in a conspiracy for distributing drugs that led to the overdose deaths of 18-year-old Bailey Henke in January and 19-year-old Evan Poitra last July.
Slaathaug Moen said Noye, who survived an overdose himself hours before Henke died Jan. 3, quickly accepted responsibility for his role in the case.
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"He was not directly responsible for these deaths," she said. "He's made some poor choices."
However, Noye has been sober since his pre-trial release from custody three months ago, and he's taking classes to earn his high school diploma, Slaathaug Moen said.
"He's very young and he's taken this very seriously," she said. "I do think he has potential for a really bright future."
Court documents were not available electronically, but the Mayville attorney said there is no minimum sentencing requirements in Noye's case. He is scheduled for sentencing July 27.
Previously, Ryan Jon Jensen, 20, of Grand Forks pleaded guilty to federal drug distribution charges in connection to Henke's death and Jameson Robert Sele, whom investigators claim received drug packages at his Grand Forks address for Jensen, also has pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges.
The indictment against Noye also named Joshua Tyler Fulp, 20, Kain Daniel Schwandt, 18, and Brandon Corde Hubbard, 40, of Portland, Ore., as defendants.
