ST. PAUL, Minn. — A North Dakota man operating a fentanyl distribution network out of Sioux Falls has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of 26-year-old Cody Enger of Pipestone, Minnesota.
Jake Noland Northern, also known as Jake Noal Northern, was sentenced in St. Paul after pleading guilty.
According to court documents, Northern distributed pressed fentanyl pills to users and distributors across southwestern Minnesota from at least February 2023 through April 21, 2023. He operated his distribution network out of Sioux Falls, selling both personal-use and bulk quantities of fentanyl pills, including to individuals who further distributed the drugs in the Pipestone community.
On April 21, 2023, Northern sold pressed fentanyl pills to another individual for approximately $200. That evening, Enger ingested one of the pills and died from fentanyl poisoning.
Approximately 40 supporters of the Enger family attended the sentencing. Shari Enger, Cody’s mother, delivered a victim impact statement in court.
“Cody’s favorite phrase was, “Everything happens for a reason,” and as I said in court, “No sentencing will ever bring Cody or others we’ve lost back. If everything happens for a reason, this is the only reason: Mr. Jake Northern will no longer have the ability to harm others, as he did to Cody, our family and friends. I’m sure Cody is very proud of all of us for fighting for him. It’s been a long 3 years, but justice was served,” Enger said.
A person close to Enger offered this reflection during the proceedings: “Cody deserves to be remembered for the beautiful soul he was, not for the way he died. I hope that through this process, his story can bring awareness to the dangers of fentanyl and help save others from this tragedy.”
Northern previously served time in prison for cocaine distribution.
“Fentanyl has stolen lives, fractured families, and destabilized entire communities across Minnesota,” U.S. Attorney Rosen said. “Northern treated addiction as an opportunity and people as profit. This office will continue to pursue federal sentences for traffickers whose actions bring deadly fentanyl into Minnesota communities.”
Lt. Edison Dengler of the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office and Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force said the case required more than three years of persistence and cooperation among law enforcement agencies. “Jake Noland Northern’s 240-month federal sentence sends a strong message that those who traffic fentanyl into Pipestone County and poison our community will be held accountable,” Dengler said.
