LANSING, MICHIGAN – A federal grand jury has returned four separate indictments on the same day alleging violations related to the distribution of controlled substances and the possession of firearms by 18 Lansing area residents. U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis’s office brought the charges unsealed yesterday, and Lansing Police Department (LPD) Chief Teresa Szymanski and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Resident Agent in Charge Sonja Everitt joined in announcing them. The LPD, ATF and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are jointly investigating these cases, with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement officers have been actively making arrests based on these indictments in the past 48 hours.
Seventeen of those charged are now in federal custody.

The first of the four indictments charges OTIS MORRIS, age 59, ERIC MCDONAL FOSTER, age 37, JONATHAN DIX, age 39, COREY DEVELL MORRIS, age 21, JAMIE LYNN VANHOOSE, age 29, and ERIN HOPKINS, age 36. The MORRISES and FOSTER were originally stopped by Michigan State Police Troopers near Paw Paw, Michigan, on May 6, 2011, while in possession of more than four kilograms of cocaine, several ounces of cocaine base (crack cocaine), a loaded firearm and more than $24,000 cash. They were initially charged by federal authorities in a Complaint. Then, on June 6, 2011, a federal grand jury returned a Superseding Indictment adding more charges and defendants. That indictment was unsealed yesterday afternoon. The now unsealed indictment alleges that OTIS MORRIS, ERIC FOSTER and COREY MORRIS were involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, possessed more than 500 grams of cocaine and an undescribed amount of crack cocaine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The conspiracy charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a life sentence, and a fine of up to $10 million, if convicted. The possession of cocaine charge carries a minimum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $5 million; the possession of crack cocaine charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million; the firearm offense carries a penalty of at least 5 years’ imprisonment, which must be served consecutively to any other offense as well as a fine of up to $250,000. OTIS MORRIS is also alleged to be an Armed Career Criminal and is charged with having been a felon in possession of a firearm on two separate dates. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment on each of those counts. OTIS MORRIS is also charged with distributing cocaine. This cocaine charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million.

This indictment also charges JONATHAN DIX with possession of more than 28 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute it, distribution of cocaine, and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The possession of crack cocaine charge carries a minimum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $5 million; the distribution of cocaine charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million; the felon in possession of a firearm charge carries maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. JAMIE VANHOOSE and ERIN HOPKINS are also charged in this indictment with distribution of cocaine. The distribution of cocaine charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million.

A separate indictment, the second of the four returned by the grand jury, charges DARRELL HENDERSON STANFIELD, age 39, COREY ANTHONY GOSS, age 39, RICHARD DWAYNE PERRY, age 27, and ANDRE NADELL DAVIS, age 41,with Conspiracy to Distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and follows an April 6, 2011, arrest of Stanfield, Goss and Perry in Texas while in possession of 11 kilograms of cocaine that was located, as disclosed by a Texas complaint, in a secret compartment of a vehicle owned by Andre Davis. The Defendants face a minimum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a life sentence, and a fine of up to $10 million, if convicted.

A third indictment charges TYREE MILLER, age 27, MARCUS MILLER, age 29, CHRIS JOHNSON, age 23, MARLON OLIVER, age 38, and RAMIRO PALACIO, age 53,with Conspiracy to Distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. This charge carries a minimum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $5 million. Also charged is RICARDO MATHEWS, age 26, who faces a count of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute it. His charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million. In the same indictment, CHRIS JOHNSON is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

In a fourth case, the federal grand jury returned a First Superseding Indictment charging ANTHONY JERMAINE WILSON, age 30, and JESSIE DANIEL WILLIAMS III, age 31, with possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and maintaining a drug house. JESSIE WILLIAMS was additionally charged with a second count of possession with intent to distribute than 500 grams of cocaine, with possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute it and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the offenses involving more than 500 grams of cocaine, the defendants face a minimum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $5 million. The offense of maintaining a drug involved premises (drug house) carries a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $2 million The possession of crack cocaine charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million; the felon in possession of a firearm charge carries maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

Anthony Wilson remains at large. Anyone having information about his whereabouts should contact the LPD at (517) 483-7867.

These cases have been investigated and developed by the LPD, the ATF, the DEA, and the Michigan State Police as part of their on-going cooperative relationship. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark V. Courtade is the prosecutor on the cases.

Police Chief Szymanski stated: “These indictments are testament to the positive partnerships between local, state, and federal agencies that we at the Lansing Police
Department are proud to be part of.”

Given the pending status of the charges, no questions about the charges will be taken at this time.

Copies of the indictments are available. The charges in the pending indictments are only allegations of criminal conduct, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until guilt is established in court by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

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