Kalamazoo Man Convicted At Trial Of Federal Drug And Gun Crimes

Case Represented the Largest Seizure of Fentanyl in the Kalamazoo Area

          GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that after a three-day trial, a jury convicted Tyrone Henderson (50) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, of the crimes of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of firearms.  Henderson was originally arrested upon a criminal complaint on November 15, 2022, and was subsequently indicted by the Grand Jury on December 6, 2022.

          “Fentanyl and other illicit street drugs pose an extreme danger to our loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We are in a fight to save lives, and my office, in coordination with our local and federal partners, is committed to disrupting the distribution of fentanyl, illegal drugs, and guns into our communities.”

          Henderson faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in federal prison, although his advisory range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines will be much higher. According to the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, at the time of the seizure, this represented the largest seizure of fentanyl in the Kalamazoo area. Henderson will be sentenced sometime later this year. 

          The Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET), a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force, had an ongoing investigation of Henderson for his involvement with fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution in Kalamazoo.  KVET obtained a warrant to search Henderson’s residence and executed it on November 10, 2022.  A search of the residence yielded 2.3 kilograms of pure fentanyl, 1.3 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, 516 grams of heroin, and 489 grams of methamphetamine.  Much of the methamphetamine seized from Henderson’s residence was in pill form, disguised to look like the party drug ecstasy.  Henderson’s residence also contained four assault rifles; ten magazines, nine of which were loaded and fit the assault rifles; ammunition; a handgun; digital scales; presses; and other implements used for processing narcotics.  Two of the seized firearms were reported stolen to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.  Henderson has multiple prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.

          The investigation of Henderson was handled by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel S. Fauson and Austin J. Hakes prosecuted the case.

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