Press Release
Contact:
MAARTEN VERMAAT
ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (616) 456-2404
MARQUETTE COUNTY CRACK DEALER TRIED AND CONVICTED
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009 - MARQUETTE, Mich. – Kevin Jermaine Rodgers, age 37, previously of Chicago, Illinois, and Marquette, Michigan, was convicted of multiple federal drug felonies by a jury in U.S. District Court in Marquette following a 3-day trial, U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis announced today. The case was tried before U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell. Rodgers will be sentenced by Judge Bell on February 5, 2010, in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The most serious of Rodgers’ convictions is conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, or crack cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
These convictions stem from a 2008 investigation conducted by the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (“UPSET”), a drug enforcement team operated by the Michigan State Police. The investigation began with an undercover purchase of crack cocaine in Marquette from David Lampinen and Patrick King on August 11, 2008. Rodgers was ultimately identified as the source of this crack cocaine. UPSET made additional undercover crack cocaine purchases on August 13, August 20, and November 12, 2008, at various locations around Marquette County. These additional purchases involved King, Rodgers, and two other suspects: Cristal Abbott and Robert Petrocik. UPSET then conducted searches of residences involved in the case and found additional evidence of drug trafficking.
Previously convicted federal defendants in this case include the following: Cristal Ann Abbott, age 32, of Marquette, who was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison; Patrick Michael King, age 52, of Marquette, who will be sentenced by Judge Bell on January 25, 2010, in Grand Rapids; David Richard Lampinen, age 25, of Marquette, who was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison; and Robert Allen Petrocik, age 50, of Negaunee, Michigan who was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the Detectives of UPSET for their exceptional work in this case. Rodgers was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maarten Vermaat and Paul D. Lochner.
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