United States Drug Enforcement Administration

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced that his office sought, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Phillip J. Green issued last Friday and earlier today, arrest warrants for 18 separate defendants charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine in the areas of Grand Rapids and Benton Harbor, Michigan. The affidavit filed in support of the complaint alleges that the drugs were trafficked into West Michigan by semi-tractor trailer from California.

During the arrests of the defendants and execution of associated searches, federal, state and local investigators seized over 30 kilograms of heroin and cocaine, multiple pounds of marijuana, two kilogram presses, approximately $1million, a bullet-proof vest, three handguns and an assault rifle with an extended magazine. One defendant suffered a gunshot wound in the course of the execution of the arrests and searches. He will appear for proceedings as his condition allows.

The charges are the result of a multi-agency federal, state and local law enforcement investigation into the conspiracy. The Drug Enforcement (DEA), Internal Revenue (IRS), Federal Bureau of (FBI), Vice Unit of the Grand Rapids Police (GRPD), Kent County Sheriff’s (KCSD), Wyoming Police Department, Michigan State (MSP), Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement (KANET), Metropolitan Enforcement (MET), U.S. Secret (USSS), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and (ATF), Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement (KVET),  Albion P.D., Calhoun County Sheriff Department, and South West Enforcement  (SWET) have all supported the investigation. 

The complaint charges the following individuals:

The DEA requests the public’s assistance in locating the following defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances: Demetrius Gaines, Retisha Pegram, Brandon Parks, and Etrevion Murphy. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of any of the individuals is encouraged to call the DEA Grand Rapids Office at 616-458-0616.