Federal Appeals Court Overturns ‘Kingpin’ Conviction of Darius Sledge

Darius Sledge, Burleigh County Detention Center

A man convicted of running a drug ring on Native American Reservations in North Dakota has one of those convictions overturned.   A federal court threw out the so-called ‘kingpin’ statute violation against 32-year-old Darius Sledge.  To be convicted of a ‘kingpin’ crime, it must involve violating three or more federal felony drug laws.  The federal court said a conviction on that charge required unanimity, which the jury was not instructed about.  The kingpin charge has been thrown out, but Sledge’s other three convictions were upheld.  His sentence was reduced from 30 to 20 years.  His brother, Baquan, was also convicted on five charges in the case.