News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2003

DEA Detroit Takes Down Major Suburban Drug Ring With Ties to Mexico

AUG 14-Following a long term investigation into cocaine distribution throughout the Western and Downriver suburbs of Detroit, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Jeffrey G. Collins and Acting Special Agent in Charge Gary Oetjen of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Detroit announced an 11 count federal grand jury indictment of 22 individuals from the Detroit and Chicago areas as well as the Source of Supply in Mexico on drug trafficking charges. The investigation was conducted jointly between the DEA and Dearborn, Michigan Police Department with assistance from a number of local and federal law enforcement agencies.

This case involved the most sophisticated investigative technology available including court authorized cellular telephone intercepts of the targets. The 22 subjects charged in this investigation face drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons charges. Many of the individuals charged had previous criminal convictions for drug and other offenses. If convicted on all counts of the federal indictment, defendants face up to life in prison and substantial fines. The DEA is expecting to seek criminal forfeiture of drug related assets in excess of $1million relating to this case.

• Jose Angel Ferrer, Livonia, MI
• Edmundo Jose-Pedro Rodriguez, Dearborn, MI
• Luis Aguilar-Anaya, Cuidad Juarez, Mexico
• Osbaldo Mendoza-Valencia, Chicago, IL
• Walter Anthony Parizon, Canton, MI
• Michael Mohamed Agemy, Dearborn, MI
• Timothy Maurice Pitts, Detroit, MI
• Subi Junior Saad, Dearborn Heights, MI
• Michael Anthony McCree, Detroit, MI
• Jerry Ray Hicks, Detroit, MI
• Jerom Joseph Balsis, Dearborn Heights, MI
• William Howard Decker, Flat Rock, MI
• Michael Charles Kristoff, Allen Park, MI
• Edmundo Rodriguez Sr., Dearborn, MI
• Raymashalle Edmonson, Detroit, MI
• Alec Gilbert Lepper, Hazel Park, MI
• Angela Marie Bennett, Lincoln Park, MI
• Jeffrey Thomas Vella, Northville, MI
• Derek Boyd Bullington, Dearborn Heights, MI
• Michelle Marie McLeod, Dearborn, MI
• Donald Joseph Faulkner, Grosse Isle, MI
• Mohamed Fawzi Charara, Dearborn, MI
• Nickolas Todd Marano, Detroit, MI

During the course of this investigation, agents seized over 18 kilograms of cocaine, 2,500 pounds of marijuana and $350,000 in cash.

"This case is having an immediate impact on the availability of cocaine in the Detroit area suburbs because these people are out of business. The contributions of the Dearborn Police Department and all of the agencies involved is what made this investigation so successful," said Gary Oetjen, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division.