Final Defendant In Kalamazoo Heroin Conspiracy Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today, U.S. District Court Judge Gordon J. Quist sentenced defendant Quintin Howell, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, to 15 years in prison. The sentencing concluded a multi-defendant joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA), Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement (KVET), Michigan State Police’s Southwestern Enforcement (SWET), Federal Bureau of (FBI), and Berrien County Sheriff’s Department. Howell conceded that his conduct involved over 100 grams of heroin and the use of a Hi-Point, ACP Model 4595 assault rifle, with an obliterated serial number, in furtherance of his drug trafficking efforts.
Additionally, the Court found that Howell was a manager in the heroin trafficking conspiracy, recruiting and directing others to further the distribution of the drug. The conspiracy, in which Howell pled guilty to, was in operation from 2013 through August of 2015.
Heroin distribution has been a scourge in our country and in Michigan. In 2014, the Michigan Department of Community Health reported that drug overdose deaths tripled in Michigan between 1999 and 2012. In 2015, over 33,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses.
Nine total defendants were charged and sentenced as a result of the Kalamazoo based investigation. The investigation involved two court-ordered wiretaps and 11 months of investigation by the law enforcement agencies involved.
In addition to Howell, the federal court sentenced the following individuals to the following terms of imprisonment in three related cases:
Timothy Bloodworth, 151 months; Dion Branch, 96 months; Tyshaun Robinson, 60 months; Charles Campbell,46 months; Quintin Howell, 180 months; Kyle Lewis,36 months; Maurice Streeter,24 months; Justin Jenkins, 180 months; Henry Hall, 42 months.
“The successful outcome to this investigation should be credited to an extraordinary coordinated law enforcement effort to use as many investigative tools at our disposal as possible to dismantle organized drug trafficking in West Michigan,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge. “Heroin remains a plague upon our society. My office will continue to direct investigations that root out and hold accountable those who would profit from spreading this poison in our communities. However, we will not end this epidemic through prosecution alone. My office has been and will continue to meet with education and health care professionals and those who may be able to make a difference to raise awareness of the danger of opioids and to discuss what they can do to save others from the awful consequences of spiraling addiction. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more.”
