United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DETROIT – Joseph Twilley, 65 years old, of Detroit, was sentenced to just over 13 years in prison. United States District Judge Laurie J. Michelson sentenced the Detroit-based leader for overseeing a drug trafficking network that distributed kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin; laundering his drug money; and possessing firearms despite being a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Julie Beck.

Beck was joined in the announcement by Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration, Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Charles E. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Detroit Field Division.

Twilley was able to obtain kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when drug prices skyrocketed as supplies dwindled. DEA and FBI’s investigation culminated in the seizure of 15 kilograms of cocaine shipped from California in a hidden compartment in a vehicle. Agents then searched Twilley’s residence and recovered heroin, fentanyl, multiple firearms, and bulk currency. IRS CI uncovered hundreds of thousands of dollars that Twilley laundered through various bank accounts for businesses he set up to hide his drug proceeds from law enforcement. 

“Illegal drug distribution operations like the one Mr. Twilley was overseeing, ravages the very foundation of our communities. Every time we take deadly drugs like fentanyl, heroin and cocaine off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our federal law enforcement partners here in Michigan,” said Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA.

“Our office works collaboratively with our federal law enforcement partners to hold drug traffickers accountable for distributing opioids and other illegal drugs into our communities while profiting handsomely and trying to hide and launder their drug proceeds. We have to stop not only the drug trafficking, but we have to remove the financial incentive to truly take down an organization like Twilley’s,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Beck.

"The sentencing of Joseph Twilley sends a clear and powerful message: those who orchestrate the distribution of illegal drugs, engage in money laundering, and illegally possess firearms will be held fully accountable under the law," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Detroit Field Office. "Through our collaboration with the DEA and IRS, we have successfully dismantled a significant drug trafficking network. The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to combat violent and white-collar crime, ensuring our communities' continued safety and security in Michigan."  

“This sentencing signals an important victory for the American public. The role of IRS Criminal Investigations in narcotics investigations is to follow the money so we can financially disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations,” said Charles Miller, IRS Criminal Investigations, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office. “We are proud to work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to hold criminals accountable and make our communities safer.”

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement (OCDETF) Southeast Regional Strike Force, an Initiative that provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.