Dawn N. Ison, U.S. Attorney | Department Of Justice Eastern District Of Michigan
Seven men from Detroit have been indicted on charges related to drug distribution, illegal possession of weapons, and money laundering. The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck, alongside Chevoryea Gibson of the FBI's Detroit Field Office and Charles E. Miller of the IRS Criminal Investigation in Detroit.
The individuals charged are Tary Holcomb, Maurice Hill, James Thomas, Curtis Weathers, Jason Ford, Conrad Taylor, and Shantonio Brooks. They face allegations of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances such as cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Conviction on these charges could result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for each defendant. Additional charges against Holcomb and Thomas include possessing firearms related to drug trafficking activities. Holcomb also faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm and engaging in money laundering since January 2023.
The case is under the jurisdiction of Judge Edmunds at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. It is important to note that an indictment serves as a formal accusation and does not imply guilt; defendants are entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Beck emphasized the commitment to dismantling local drug trafficking organizations: “This case is an example of our zealous commitment to identify and dismantle local drug trafficking organizations that wreak havoc in our community by distributing harmful substances, illegally amassing weapons, and laundering illicit proceeds."
Cheyvoryea Gibson highlighted the collaborative efforts between agencies: “The indictment...was successfully halted due to the tireless and meticulous investigative efforts by our dedicated team at the FBI Detroit Field Office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the IRS Criminal Investigation."
Charles Miller from IRS-CI stressed the importance of financial transaction regulations: “Federal laws that regulate the reporting of financial transactions are in place to detect and stop illegal activities...CI is committed to enforcing these laws and following the money wherever it leads.”
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at disrupting high-level criminal networks through coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts.
The investigation involved agents from FBI’s Detroit Organized Crime Squad and IRS-CI with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Ramamurthy is leading the prosecution.
