A man from Washington state has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in a large-scale drug distribution conspiracy. The operation, which included nearly 200 pounds of methamphetamine and other controlled substances, was announced by United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined by Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Detroit Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), in making the announcement.
Antonio D.J. Mitchell, 39, from Seattle, Washington, received a 150-month sentence from United States District Judge Linda V. Parker.
Court documents revealed that DEA and USPIS agents discovered Keith Haskins had been mailing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine from California to Kennie Smith in Detroit. Federal agents intercepted several parcels containing drugs hidden inside plastic buckets from a hardware store chain. Smith then distributed these drugs around Detroit.
Haskins recruited Mitchell to help transport drugs and proceeds between the southwestern U.S. and Michigan. Both later moved to Detroit, where they expanded operations by renting a storage unit and an apartment downtown. In November 2021, agents seized over 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, three kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, seven firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from these locations.
Four members involved in this conspiracy were charged federally. Haskins, Smith, and Mitchell all pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine distribution. Haskins was sentenced to 18 years; Smith received 125 months. A fourth defendant, Chalisa Sawyer's trial is set for January 28, 2025.
“We will tirelessly pursue and prosecute drug dealers who continue to inflict harm on our communities with dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl," stated U.S. Attorney Ison. "The sentences imposed in this case should underscore that goal."
“At the time of his arrest," said Special Agent Greene, "Mr. Mitchell and his co-conspirators were in possession of more than 87 kilograms of methamphetamine... The fentanyl alone could provide a deadly dosage to 1.5 million people.”
Inspector Hopkins remarked on the importance of partnerships: “The sentences handed down thus far for these co-conspirators underscore the seriousness... Crucial to success are relationships we maintain with partners at all levels.”
The investigation was conducted by DEA special agents and USPIS inspectors with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Franzinger under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative targeting high-level drug traffickers.