Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

November 11, 2015

Four Arrested for Drug Trafficking by MDEA in Maine

Recently, four individuals were arrested for trafficking crack cocaine and heroin in Biddeford, Maine. The arrests came after the MDEA (Maine Drug Enforcement Agency) conducted an investigation into the illegal distribution of these schedule drugs over several months, and found the suspects were conducting business from a Hazel Street apartment.

Two of the individuals trafficking drugs from the apartment are from New York, 20-year-old Raymond Naveo and 20-year-old Celina Rodriguez. The other two suspects live reside in Biddeford, and include 33-year-old Corey Harmon and 33-year-old Niaomi Butts. According to a news article at WCSH 6, undercover agents bought crack cocaine from Harmon and Naveo on various occasions during the investigation. It was also determined that Naveo and Butts traveled to New York to purchase additional drugs for distributing in Biddeford.

Naveo, Butts, and Rodriguez were arrested when state police stopped the vehicle driven by Butts, who was arrested for operating a motor vehicle after suspension. Rodriguez was found to be in possession of heroin, and Naveo was arrested as well. Meanwhile at the Biddeford apartment, Harmon was arrested after agents found him inside and searched the apartment, where they found four grams of heroin and other items that indicated drug trafficking was taking place. Authorities were alerted that Butts was concealing illegal drugs within a body cavity at the time she was pulled over for operating after suspension; she was taken to a nearby health care facility where about 38 grams of crack cocaine was seized.

November 10, 2015

Grand Rapids Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing False Tax Return with IRS

by Scott Grabel

On Wednesday November 4 it was announced by U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. that 40-year-old Yashica Toshian Tucker of Grand Rapids had been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after filing a false tax return with the IRS (U.S. Government). Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman of the IRS – Criminal Investigation joined in the announcement.

Close up of a hand signing a check. Please note that the signature is fictitious.

Tucker pleaded guilty in August to one of 10 counts against her involving the filing of fraudulent tax returns on behalf of others. This activity occurred beginning in January of 2011 and continued until February of 2013, according to news reports. The total of the false tax returns filed with the IRS was $71,606 according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. Tucker was charged in April of this year.

November 9, 2015

Lincoln School Bus Driver Charged with DUI

by Scott Grabel

On Friday November 6, 27-year-old Ayla Johnson of Lincoln, RI was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence after she allegedly drove a school bus while intoxicated.

Modern LED light bar on police cruiser flashing red and blue emergency lights.

According to a news report at WCVB, Johnson stumbled off the bus she was driving and entered Northern Elementary School. An administrator with the school notified police, who found Johnson in the nurse’s office at the school. Police say the bus driver had a strong odor of alcohol, and they proceeded to administer a field sobriety test, which she failed. She was arrested for DUI.

November 6, 2015

Two Cousins Charged with Armed Robbery After Allegedly Using BB Gun to Rob Grand Rapids Woman

by Scott Grabel

On Wednesday November 4, a woman was allegedly robbed of her purse at Delaware Street SE and South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids by two young men who used a BB gun to frighten the woman, who was not injured.

According to a news article a Mlive.com, the two men, who are cousins, were apprehended just a few minutes later after the woman called police; they were riding bicycles when police spotted one of the suspects who appeared to have a BB gun in the pocket of his sweatshirt. Grand Rapids Police Captain Vincent Reilly said the older cousin, who is 24, told police he was on probation for a prior armed robbery offense. The younger cousin had marijuana in his possession, according to Reilly.

The two cousins who were arrested. 20-year-old Moises Espino is charged with one count of armed robbery and possession of marijuana. 24-year-old Ezra Osorio-Espino is charged with armed robbery as a second-time habitual offender. Both were held on $100,000 bond. Police believe the cousins may have been involved in a similar incident earlier in the evening in which two men on bicycles attempted to steal a college student’s backpack.

November 5, 2015

Former New Mexico Sheriff Unsuccessful in Appealing Conviction for Civil Rights Violation

by Scott Grabel

Last year, Rio Arriba County Sheriff Tommy Rodella was found guilty of violating a man’s civil rights during a traffic stop. The incident occurred when Rodella was off-duty; the traffic stop gone bad cost Rodella his job, and left him facing a ten year sentence.

Facade of the United States Supreme Court

According to the New Mexico Political Report, Rodella and his son were driving a jeep when Rodella allegedly chased down a motorist and pulled him over after the man tapped his brakes and flipped the sheriff off. The motorist, a man, said he was upset because he was being tailgated by Rodella’s jeep. After chasing the man down, Rodella and his son allegedly forced the man out of his vehicle at gunpoint. Rodella only showed the man his sheriff’s badge once he was on the ground, slapping it against the victim’s face.

November 3, 2015

LaPorte County Deputy Coroner Facing Felony Drug Charges

by Scott Grabel

A recent article at the Northwest Indiana Times revealed that 47-year-old Dawn Maxson was arrested on October 29 for selling drugs in a Kmart parking lot, and is now charged with seven felony drug counts. Maxson is a LaPorte County deputy coroner, however she has been suspended from her duties without pay pending the outcome of her criminal case.

On Thursday, Maxson was arrested for allegedly selling a narcotic painkiller; the drug she was selling in the Kmart parking lot was said to be hydromorphone, a morphine derivative. Maxson was arrested by officers from the LaPorte Police Dept., Indiana State Police, and Sheriff’s Office which comprises the Metro Operations Unit. She was charged at that time with felony dealing a schedule I, II, or III controlled substance.

Since the initial charge, Maxson has been charged with six additional counts involving the sale of 7 to 15 hydromorphone pills for between $50 and $100, and the sale of six Norco pills for $130. The initial charge involved the sale of 70 hydromorphone pills in the Kmart parking lot for $500.

November 2, 2015

Milwaukee Democratic Rep Josh Zepnick Arrested for Drunk Driving

by Scott Grabel

On Thursday October 29, Milwaukee Democratic Representative Josh Zepnick was arrested for OWI (operating while intoxicated) after he was pulled over for driving through a red light just before 8:30 p.m. According to news reports, it is Zepnick’s first drunk driving offense.

The state lawmaker told the officer who pulled him over that he had consumed five or six beers at a bar. Zepnick allegedly failed field sobriety tests which he submitted to, however he declined a breath test. According to a news article at the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, Zepnick admitted to drinking alcohol. The officer included in the incident report that Zepnick smelled of alcohol, and that his eyes looked as though he had been drinking.

Zepnick’s sister died in 1990 when she was riding her bicycle and was struck by a drunk driver. This is a subject Zepnick discussed in 2009 on the Assembly floor as lawmakers worked to stiffen drunk driving laws. Zepnick was a primary sponsor of a 2009 law signed by then-Governor Jim Doyle.

October 29, 2015

Halloween 2015 Safety Tips for Michigan Residents – Be Safe & Have Fun

by Scott Grabel

Halloween is one of the most fun holidays of the year for children and teens (and even some adults), but it can also be one of the most dangerous occasions. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, Halloween is the one day of the year when children’s’ risk of being struck by a car and killed doubles. As a parent, it’s important to keep your children and yourself as safe as possible so you can enjoy Halloween again next year.

Our unofficial firm mascot, Waldo, dressed in his “Peppy the Pirate” costume.

Whether a child or adult, it’s fun dressing up in costume and trick-or-treating door to door, or attending a Halloween party at someone’s home, a church, or other location. The Michigan State Police reminds everyone to be extra cautious, and to be aware of the potential risks. Here are a few tips for trick-or-treaters:

October 27, 2015

Two Lima Men Facing Felony Drug Charges Following Large Heroin Bust in Allen County

by Scott Grabel

On October 26, two Lima, OH residents were taken into custody for their involvement in what police said was one of the largest heroin busts in Allen County’s history. 39-year-old Anthony Duvernay and 45-year-old Marvin Thomas are now facing multiple drug charges.

An ongoing investigation conducted by a multi-agency law enforcement task force revealed Duvernay and Thomas were in possession of two kilos of heroin, which authorities believe was being brought in by the two men from out of state to distribute in Ohio. The 4.4 lbs. of heroin has an estimated street value of about $330,000, according to Allen County Sheriff Sam Crish.

The suspects were indicted by a grand jury on Friday on charges of possession of heroin, trafficking in heroin, illegal manufacture of drugs, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities believe there will be addition arrests in the future connected to the case.

October 26, 2015

Stillwater Parade Accident Leaves Town Shocked, Woman Facing Second-Degree Murder Charges

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday October 24, the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade, which draws crowds of more than 80,000 including fans, alumni, and area residents and is considered a major celebration, abruptly came to an end when a woman driving an Elantra plowed through several barriers and struck a parked motorcycle before barreling into the crowd. It was initially suspected that the driver of the vehicle, 25-year-old Adacia Chambers, was driving under the influence. Chambers is now facing four charges of second-degree murder after four people were killed, and just under 50 injured.

On Sunday, the county’s DA said that Chambers would likely be charged with driving under the influence of drugs. Police believed she was under the influence, but did not believe alcohol was involved. Chambers’ attorney, Tony Coleman, said he did not believe his client was under the influence at all, but instead suffers from a physical or mental illness. Chambers’ family members and boyfriend also said she was sober late Friday and early Saturday when they last saw her, and that they had not seen her consume alcohol.

Coleman told USA Today that during a meeting with his client at the jail following the accident, he was not satisfied at all that he was communicating with a competent individual.