Press Release
Detroit One Collaboration Leads To Convictions Of Violent Drug Gang In Northwest Detroit
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan
The collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement under the Detroit One program led to convictions of three individuals who were involved in a violent, armed drug gang located in northwest Detroit, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced.
Mohamed Faraj, Fouad Faraj, and Mohamed Ayoub, were convicted of a variety of charges after a six-week trial before U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III. The drug crew had been distributing marijuana and prescription pills in the Warrendale neighborhood in Detroit from 2009 until their arrests in August 2013. The criminal enterprise led by the two Faraj brothers employed teenagers and young men to act as their street level distributors. These young workers regularly had access to firearms supplied by the leaders. The group committed arson to create stash houses and to further the enterprise=s narcotics distribution activities.
The investigation was coordinated by the Detroit One Initiative, through the lead efforts of the Comprehensive Violence Reduction Partnership, consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Police Department, Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Corrections, and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations. By sharing information and coordinating efforts, investigators were able to link suspects and incidents to uncover the scope of the organization and identify its members. Seven members of the group now stand convicted of federal charges.
The three men convicted at trial were:
- Mohamed Faraj, 31, of Dearborn Heights, who was found guilty of continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and use of a telecommunications device in furtherance of narcotics trafficking;
- Fouad Faraj, 44, of Dearborn Heights, who was found guilty of continuing criminal enterprise and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and
- Mohamed Ayoub, 32, of Dearborn Heights, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
These convictions follow the guilty pleas of the following members of the crew:
- Mohammed Abdul Alhakami, 23, of Detroit, who pleaded guilty to possession of firearms in furtherance of narcotics trafficking;
- Ali Al-Hisnawi, 22, of Detroit, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and
- Zaidon Al-Beheia, 26, of Dearborn, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and
- Adnan Bazzi, 28, of Dearborn, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
- Abed Faraj, 40, of Detroit was acquitted of the charges against him.
“The convictions of this drug trafficking organization is the direct result of the collaboration of the Detroit One effort, where we are sharing information and working together to connect the dots between federal, state and local investigations,” McQuade said. “This group caused significant damage to the Warrendale community, exploiting teenage boys to do their dirty work on the street as drug runners and burning homes to use as stash houses.”
Detroit One is a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community to reduce homicide and other violent crime in Detroit. By working collaboratively, local, state, and federal law enforcement is striving to maximize its ability to identify and arrest the persons and groups initiating the violence in Detroit.
Updated March 19, 2015
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