U.S. Attorney Andy Luger announced the indictment of eight people Friday on charges of operating a heroin distribution ring in north Minneapolis that attracted drug buyers from all over the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs.

The indictments were part of "Operation Exile," a cooperated effort by the Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force, which is comprised of the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the Minneapolis, Edina, Minnetonka, Hopkins and Eden Prairie police departments.

Half of the ring's members (who called themselves "The Crew"), including the alleged ringleader, Richard Lee English, 37, – also known as "Nation" – are from Chicago, authorities said. The others indicted and their hometowns were:

  • Milton "Meech" Eugene Ingram, 22, of Chicago
  • Johnny Martell Brown, 22, unknown
  • Lee "Lee Ball" Antoine Howell, 32, of Minneapolis
  • Shanequa Amerson, 20, of Minneapolis
  • Orlando Donee Pryor, 21, of Chicago
  • Russell "Rello" Anthony Greyer, 26, of Minneapolis
  • Dion Terrance Fisher, 31, of Chicago

Luger said the indictments sent a strong message to other drug-dealing operations that "there is, if you're a heroin dealer, no safe place in Minnesota to do business."

"If you're a Chicago heroin supplier, don't sell your poison here in Minnesota," he told reporters at a press conference in Minneapolis Monday.