Suburban Detroit Resident Sentenced To 15 + Years In Federal Prison For Large Scale Cocaine And Marijuana Conspiracy
Orlando Gordon admitted to selling kilo quantity amounts of cocaine and pound quantities of marijuana to co-defendants; multiple firearms and large sums of U.S. currency seized from Gordon and co-conspirators
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Number: (313) 234-4310
DETROIT - A Franklin, Michigan resident, one of sixteen individuals indicted on federal drug charges, was sentenced to 190 months in prison on September 13th, 2013, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Robert L. Corso, of the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA), Acting Special Agent in Charge Darryl McCrary, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Acting Special Agent in Charge John Robert Shoup, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
Sentenced was Orlando Ricardo Gordon, 33, of Franklin, Michigan. Gordon pleaded guilty in March, 2013 to conspiring to distribute controlled substances and structuring a financial transaction. Gordon admitted that, between approximately 2008 and May 2012, he conspired with co-defendants and others to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine (crack cocaine). More specifically, Gordon admitted that he supplied his co-defendants with pound-sized quantities of marijuana and kilogram-sized quantities of cocaine for further distribution. Gordon also admitted to having another person purchase money orders in amounts less than $3,000 to avoid reporting requirements.
Co-defendants Vince Jerome Shivers, 42, of Southfield, Derrick Arnold Terry, 51, of Detroit, Danta Shamu-Parker Johnson, 34, of Detroit, Darren Davon Terry, 35, of Detroit, Trenton Jordan Obamwonyi, 27, of Detroit, Tamiko Mel-Lang Hodo, 36, of Detroit, Anthony Wayne Hall, 46, of Detroit, Anton Jamaill Harris, 32, of Detroit, Ervin Kenneth Vincent, 24, of Inkster Darnell Darryl Easterling, 48, of Detroit, Courtney Deon Shafi Strickland, 36, of Detroit, Benjamin Isaac Carter, 39, of Detroit, Erik Lee Ross, 34, of Sterling Heights, Allen Corey Terry, 47, of Farmington Hills, and Markita Johnson 28, of Detroit, Michigan have all pleaded guilty and have either been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation involved multiple federal agencies, including DEA, ATF, FBI, and IRS. The investigation included seizures of large sums of U.S. currency, including a seizure of more than $500,000 from a residence in Franklin, Michigan, large quantities of drugs, including a seizure of over 1,000 kilograms/2,200 pounds of marijuana, and multiple firearms.
United States Attorney McQuade stated that, "Large-scale drug trafficking and accompanying gun crimes create danger and fear in our neighborhoods. The coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies helped to dismantle this conspiracy."
DEA Special Agent in Charge Robert L. Corso said, "These individuals directed a major marijuana and cocaine trafficking ring that operated throughout southeast Michigan. The dismantling of this organization halted the flow of hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of illegal drugs into metropolitan Detroit. This investigation exemplifies the strong collaborative effort that exists between DEA and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, and is a positive step towards making our community safer for everyone."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Darryl McCrary said, "Narcotics trafficking along with violent firearm activity destroys the families and neighborhoods in our communities. ATF along with its state, local and federal partners will continue to aggressively pursue those violent individuals and organizations that cripple our communities with crime."
IRS Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez said, "This case illustrates the seriousness behind prosecuting drug-trafficking crimes. The role of IRS-CI is to take the profit out of these illegal organizations. Drug dealers pollute our neighborhoods with no regret as their actions are only fueled by greed. The seizure of their illegal proceeds, drugs and weapons brings us one step closer to justice."
The Detroit Police Department, the Franklin Police Department, the Troy Police Department, the Novi Police Department, the Warren Police Department, the Michigan State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service also assisted in the investigation of the case.
