Dozen charged with selling deadly heroin in Oakland County
PONTIAC, Mich. (WJBK) - A federal indictment was unsealed on Wednesday, charging 12 people with selling a deadly batch of heroin that was mixed with fentanyl in Oakland County and other areas.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch and several local law enforcement announced the arrests of 12 people who were part of the drug-trafficking organization known as 'TEAM."
A press conference is set for 11 a.m. from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. FOX 2 News Now will stream it live. CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON FACEBOOK
According to a press release by Lemisch, TEAM was formed when members of the "Hustle Boys" and the "Wall Street Gorillaz" joined together to distribute heroin starting in 2010.
The indictment claims that customers of the drug trafficking ring contacted members and arranged heroin sales by phone in a neutral location. Those locations were typically strip malls throughout Pontiac but they're also accused of seeling heroin from trap houses on Granada and Hopkins in Pontiac. Authorities claim they alerted their customers of heroin for sale by texting the word FIRE.
The following people were all charged on Wednesday with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over a kilogram of heroin mixed with fentanyl:
Timothy Williams, 26, of Pontiac, Kristopher Anderson, 40, of Pontiac, Deaire Rayford, 26, of Auburn Hills, Christopher Light, 25, of Commerce, Kourvoisiea Pittman, 27, of Keego Harbor, Robert Bell, Jr., 28, of Pontiac, Deandre Mullen, 26, of Pontiac, Steven Erkins, 24, of Pontiac, Anthony Lee, 27,of Pontiac, Quanzay Milton, 32, of Pontiac, Antonio Bell, 26, of Waterford, and James Bellmore, 50, of Waterford.
Authorities say Williams, who went by the tame 'T2', was the leader of TEAM. He was also charged with distribution resulting in bodily harm to four people.
Anderson and another man, Marlon McCallum, 35, of White Lake, were charged with distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in the death of one victim.
The distribution charges causing death carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.