Defendants in Massive Drug Distribution Scheme Sentenced to Federal Prison
DETROIT – A State of Washington man was sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison for his role in an armed drug conspiracy that amassed nearly 200 pounds of methamphetamine and other controlled substances, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Orville O. Greene, special agent in charge of the Detroit Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Rodney Hopkins, inspector in charge of the Detroit Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
A DEA and USPIS investigation revealed that Keith Haskins had been mailing kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine from California to his associate in Detroit, Kennie Smith. Federal agents intercepted several of these parcels, many of which contained drugs packaged inside of plastic buckets from a hardware store chain. Smith then managed distribution in the Detroit area from several of his properties. Haskins later recruited Mitchell, aged 39 from Seattle, Washington, to assist with transporting drugs and drug proceeds between the southwestern United States and Michigan.
Haskins and Mitchell eventually moved to Detroit and expanded their operations. The pair rented a storage unit and a downtown apartment where, in November 2021, agents found over 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, a kilogram of cocaine, seven firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including a drum-style magazine.
“At the time of his arrest, Mr. Mitchell and his co-conspirators were in possession of more than 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, and other illicit drugs,” said Greene.
“The fentanyl alone could provide a deadly dosage to 1.5 million people. DEA remains committed to dismantling criminal organizations who exchange lives for monetary gain and blatantly ignore the laws of this nation.”
Four members of the conspiracy were charged in federal court. Haskins, Smith, and Mitchell each pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Linda V. Parker to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as possessing or attempting to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Haskins, 47, of San Bernardino County, California, was previously sentenced to 18 years in prison. Smith, 46, of Clinton Township, Michigan, received 125 months in prison. The fourth defendant, Chalisa Sawyer, is awaiting trial set for January 28, 2025.
“Drug dealers continue to imperil our communities with drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, and make things even more dangerous when firearms are involved,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “We and our agency partners will tirelessly pursue severe sentences to hold defendants accountable for the threat they pose to health and safety of this district.”
