Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
In April of this year, 44-year-old Steven Duane Dent was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn to 20 years in federal prison for his role in trafficking narcotics, specifically cocaine and heroin, according to a recent announcement by United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade. The DEA and IRS – Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarod Koopman participated in the investigation of Dent and others in the eastern district of Michigan, including defendant Abel Ruiz.
According to court documents, Dent and Ruiz conspired with others to distribute nearly 13 kilograms of cocaine in this area of the state in March of 2007. Dent pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Following his 20-year term in a Tucson, Arizona institution and participation in a residential drug and alcohol program, Dent will be on supervised release for 10 years.
Dent was also charged in March of 2010 with money laundering which involved purchasing more than 50 money orders totaling more than $98,000. These money order transactions were an effort by Dent to disguise what the funds were being used for, and to avoid reporting the transactions as required by federal law.
Essentially, Dent and his co-conspirators worked to profit from the sale of illegal narcotics, and attempted to disguise these profits in order to avoid reporting to the IRS. Jarod Koopman said in a press release that like other criminals, drug dealers are motivated by greed. The crimes drug dealers are involved in have a devastating effect on the community. Koopman said that the IRS – Criminal Investigation will continue to provide financial expertise and work in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to strip the profits from drug traffickers.
Trafficking illegal schedule I substances including cocaine and heroin is one of the most serious crimes anyone can be accused of. While possessing or manufacturing illegal drugs is serious, distributing and selling to others will result in substantial prison time and fines that can range into hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
Whether you have been charged with possession of marijuana, manufacturing methamphetamines, or distributing/trafficking cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs such as oxycodone, or other substances, it is imperative to your freedom and future that you work with a skilled and aggressive Michigan drug crime attorney. Without capable legal guidance, it is a certainty your future is in jeopardy.