An Ypsilanti man was sentenced today to life in prison after having been convicted by a federal jury on charges of distribution and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, heroin and fentanyl, resulting in the overdose death of one victim and the serious bodily injury to a second victim, announced Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
Joining Mohsin in the announcement were Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division, and Chad Baugh, Deputy Director of Canton Police Department.
Sentenced was Adam Dean Brown, 41. Brown was convicted on all three counts after an eleven-day trial which took place in September 2019 before United States District Judge Sean Cox. Brown also pleaded guilty to two lesser charges prior to trial. The jury deliberated approximately six hours before returning their verdicts.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 17, 2017, law enforcement responded to a house call where they found an individual deceased in his basement. Officers found a syringe and packet of suspected heroin at the scene and determined the deceased died of an apparent drug overdose. A subsequent investigation revealed that the suspected heroin was actually fentanyl, and that the 22-year-old victim died from a fentanyl overdose. Through their investigation, officers learned that the victim purchased the fentanyl from defendant Brown, a previously convicted drug trafficker. Further evidence showed that Brown and co-defendant James Sharp conspired to distribute illegal drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, over a fourteen-month period in 2016 and 2017. Co-defendant Terence Robinson connected Brown to the Oct. 17, 2017, overdose victim. Before officers could stop Brown, however, he sold fentanyl to a second local man, leading to his overdose and serious bodily injury. The second victim also overdosed on fentanyl sold by Brown, but the victim’s mother called 911 and first responders worked diligently to revive the victim.
"This case is an example of the grave threat fentanyl poses to both witting and unwitting users," said Acting US Attorney Mohsin. “We are fully committed to prosecuting individuals who continue to fuel the opioid epidemic in this state and throughout this country. We hope that today’s sentence is significant step in helping to bring closure to the victim’s family."
“Fentanyl and heroin are causing overdose deaths throughout the state of Michigan in increasing numbers", stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Martin. “The DEA is committed to aggressively pursuing individuals and Drug Trafficking Organizations who distribute these poisons across the state in order to profit from the destruction of lives and communities."
“The Canton Police Department is fortunate to be able to partner with the federal government and in this case, provide a voice for the victim and a sense of justice for the family members struggling with the loss of their loved ones," said Chad Baugh, Deputy Director of Canton Police Department. “We are hopeful this sentence sends a message to drug traffickers in southeast Michigan," Baugh adds.
James Sharp pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 11, 2019 and was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Terence Robinson pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison.
This investigation was led by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration assigned to the Southeast Michigan Regional OCDETF Strike Force along with assistance from the Canton Township Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Michael Buckley and Hank Moon.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
