United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DETROIT – A 43-year-old Detroit man, Melvin Lamar Triplett, was sentenced to 23 years in prison today for drug conspiracy and delivering drugs causing death and serious bodily injury, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced today.

Beck was joined in the announcement by Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division.

Following a two-week trial in September 2024, a jury found Triplett guilty of distributing crack cocaine and fentanyl, resulting in the overdose deaths of two individuals and a third, non-fatal overdose. He also was convicted of a multi-month drug trafficking conspiracy, leading up to the distributions that resulted in the charged overdoses. Evidence at trial showed that Triplett was the leader of a drug trafficking operation that sold to an established customer base. In November 2022, Triplett distributed fentanyl-laced crack cocaine that caused multiple overdoses. DEA investigators traced the lethal drugs back to Triplett, a previously convicted drug dealer.

“Two people lost their lives due to Mr. Triplett’s criminal activity and sentencing is a testament to the hard work DEA and our outstanding law enforcement partners put into this investigation. We will continue to aggressively pursue those who deal drugs and cause death in our community," said Lawton.

“Our office will vigorously pursue drug traffickers who push dangerous drugs like fentanyl and crack cocaine into our communities with indifference to the tragedy it inflicts. Thanks to the outstanding teamwork of the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and multiple local police departments, a dangerous drug trafficker has been removed from our streets,” stated Beck.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Dearborn Heights Police Department, Livonia Police Department, and Garden City Police Department. It was prosecuted by AUSAs Caitlin Casey and Eaton Brown.