14 Accused In Detroit-To-West Virginia Heroin Ring
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Fourteen people have been charged with roles in a heroin trafficking operation that stretched from Detroit to West Virginia.
Nine defendants were arrested Tuesday, including five from Detroit, three from Morgantown, W.Va., and another from Miami, Florida. Five other suspects are still being sought.
A federal grand jury returned three separate indictments alleging that a group of individuals from Detroit traveled to Morgantown to operate a heroin distribution ring in North Central West Virginia. The indictments allege that heroin was repeatedly sold near a variety of protected locations in the Morgantown area in 2014 and 2015.
"Federal penalties for drug trafficking are severe, and the FBI will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to stop the flow of illegal drugs and to dismantle the violent criminal enterprises that facilitate the flow," Special Agent in Charge Scott S. Smith said in a statement.
Those arrested on heroin trafficking charges include:
• Draylon Eric Beecham, also known as "Wood," 40, of Detroit
• Keith Antonio Cohens, also known as "Jay," 34, of Detroit
• James Leon Fisher, also known as "D," 29, of Detroit
• Craig S. Coffee, also known as "Mack," 48, of Detroit
• An unidentified individual known as "Mac," of Detroit
• Michaelo Merone, 30, of Miami
• Daniel Ross Sims, 26, of Morgantown
• Debra Bolden, 45, of Morgantown
• Justin Donald Myers, 36, of Morgantown
Several individuals have not yet been located, including:
• Darrin Lawrence Broadnax, also known as "Silk," 48, of Detroit
• Romelle DeShaun Stevens, also known as "Bishop," 26, of Detroit
• Jeffrey Allen Motley, also known as "G," 24, of Detroit
• Robert Tucker, also known as "Diego," 22, of Detroit
• Ryan Hayworth, 21, of Mullens, West Virginia.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of any of the suspects is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 304-623-0486.
TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.