A Saginaw man was convicted Friday of armed drug trafficking after a federal jury trial in Bay City, Michigan, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
Joining McQuade in the announcement was Steven Bogdalek, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The jury found Deondrai Allon Tippins, 41, guilty after a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington. Tippins was convicted of distribution of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and felon in possession of a firearm.
The convictions follow an investigation conducted by the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team "BAYANET") and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). According to evidence presented at trial, Tippins distributed drugs out of his residence while carrying a firearm. After his arrest, Tippins threatened to injure a confidential informant.
"We are using federal resources to make our neighborhoods safer by removing armed drug dealers," McQuade said.
The case was prosecuted by the Bay City branch of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
