Federal Jury Convicts Minnesota Man on Charges Linked to 5 Deaths

Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - The son of a former state lawmaker has been found guilty of federal drug and weapons charges connected to a traffic crash last year that killed five young women.

The US Attorney for Minnesota says a federal jury today found 28-year-old Derrick John Thompson guilty of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm as a felon, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He was indicted on the federal charges after the Hennepin County Attorney's Office filed charges against him for the deadly crash.

The criminal complaint in state court was recently amended to add five counts of third-degree murder to the 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide that were included in the original charging document.

READ MORE: Minnesota Man Accused of Crash That Killed 5 Charged With Murder

Court records state that the Brooklyn Park man is accused of speeding through a red light and smashing into another vehicle on the night of June 16, 2023. The collision resulted in the deaths of five women, who ranged in age from 17 to 20 years old.

The charges indicate the deadly collision occurred just moments after Thompson allegedly passed a State Trooper on I-35 going around 95 mph. That was just before his vehicle exited onto Lake Street and seconds before the fatal crash.

A news release issued by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office noted that Thompson has a history of dangerous driving that includes previous convictions for a hit-and-run in California that resulted in serious injuries six years ago.

The US Attorney for Minnesota says the federal charges brought against Thompson were based on a search of the rental vehicle he was driving at the time of the collision. Court records say the search resulted in the discovery of a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine and three baggies that contained more than 2000 fentanyl pills. Additional baggies were also found in the vehicle that contained 14 grams of fentanyl powder, and 35 grams of cocaine along with text messages on his phone pertaining to drug deals.

Thompson is the son of former State Representative John Thompson.