Trial delayed for 6 suspects in Williston heroin overdoses

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) - Trial has been delayed until fall for six people arrested in connection with a series of heroin overdoses, including one fatal, in the North Dakota oil patch hub of Williston.

The suspects were indicted by a grand jury in May on heroin distribution and possession charges. They have pleaded not guilty and were scheduled to stand trial this month. Defense lawyers requested and were granted more time to prepare, and the suspects will now stand trial beginning Sept. 27 in U.S. District Court in Bismarck, the Williston Herald reported (http://bit.ly/2a4tuIf ).

Suspects Sylvester McCurry, 21, and 22-year-old Jamelle Edwards, both come from Chicago. The others - Timothy Amundson, 31, Johnny Thompson, 35, Tanner Nielsen, 22, and Mariah Slater, 21 - are Williston residents.

They could face life in prison if convicted.

Authorities say heroin supplied by the alleged drug ring was responsible for seven overdoses over a weeklong stretch in January. One person died and the others were hospitalized.

Authorities have linked the group to a Chicago-based drug ring that sold heroin in North Dakota and other areas from 2015 until February this year. They allege the ring distributed heroin laced with the powerful painkiller fentanyl to make it more potent, which also made it more dangerous.

Williston police, a regional drug task force and the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

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Information from: Williston Herald, http://www.willistonherald.com