Detroit man with previous felony drug convictions charged with intent to distribute meth
A federal grand jury sitting in Toledo has returned a one-count indictment charging Eddie Lee Pope, age 47, of Detroit, Michigan, with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This charge carries an enhanced penalty specification due to the defendant’s history of previous felony drug offense convictions.
According to court documents, on October 14, 2020, the Ohio State Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle that the defendant was operating. The criminal complaint states that as the patrol officer was questioning the defendant outside of his vehicle, the defendant took off running and was later apprehended. A plastic bag allegedly containing 446.8 grams of methamphetamine was later found near the area where the defendant was apprehended.
The defendant has a history of drug trafficking convictions, including delivery/manufacture of cocaine in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert N. Melching and Alissa M. Sterling.
Daniel Ball
Daniel.Ball@usdoj.gov