Fugitive drug brothers captured
Third man remains missing weeks after guilty verdicts in drug trial
Carlos Powell (David Coates / The Detroit News)
Federal agents have captured two of the three missing fez-wearing drug dealers, including kingpin Carlos Powell, who disappeared last month ahead of guilty verdicts in their drug trial.
Some details were unavailable early Thursday but Powell and his brother, Eric Powell, were captured late Wednesday. Carlos Powell was caught in the eastern district of Missouri with a firearm and a large amount of money. Eric Powell was caught near Atlanta with a large amount of money, U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Deputy Robert Watson confirmed.
The Powell family has ties to the Atlanta area.
In December 2010, federal prosecutors asked a judge to order Carlos Powell's luxury condominium in a hip area of Atlanta forfeited to the government. The condo was purchased with proceeds from the drug ring, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Beck wrote in the forfeiture complaint.
The arrests cap an intense manhunt launched after Carlos Powell, 39, of Washington Township, brother Eric Powell, 36, of Franklin and friend Earnest Proge, 38, of Detroit disappeared before jurors in their drug trial reached guilty verdicts May 12. The three men were free on bond, a decision that led to finger-pointing among federal officials who prosecuted the men in one of the biggest drug cases in metro Detroit history.
The third man, Proge, is still missing. Anyone with information is asked to call the U.S. Marshals Service at (313) 234-5656.
Carlos Powell ran one of the most prolific and profitable drug rings in Metro Detroit history. His operation generated tens of millions of dollars and was responsible for importing hundreds of kilograms of heroin and cocaine, and thousands of pounds of marijuana from Mexico, prosecutors said.
During a years-long investigation headed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, agents seized 66 pounds of heroin, 12 kilograms of cocaine, 1,000 pounds of marijuana and more than $21 million in cash.
Carlos Powell’s drug ring allegedly laundered profits and purchased $800,000 worth of jewelry, real estate in Michigan and Georgia and luxury vehicles, including two Bentleys, a Ferrari, a Rolls Royce and boats. Most have been seized.
When Carlos Powell learned there was a verdict May 12, court officials said he cut his ankle tether and disappeared.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy was outraged after learning the three men had fled before jurors returned those guilty verdicts that could lead to life in prison.
“No bond. No exceptions,” a red-faced Murphy said, pointing at a deputy U.S. marshal inside a courtroom filled with lawyers, prosecutors and federal agents. “These guys are into the wind. I think it’s outrageous.”
Before calling jurors into his courtroom, the judge stood at his bench, pointed at lawyers and demanded answers.
“Where’s Carlos Powell?” the judge asked Deday LaRene.
“I can’t answer that,” the lawyer said.
“I want the government to get three bench warrants immediately, and I want the marshals to go get these guys,” the judge said.
The government offered $7,500 for information leading to Carlos Powell’s arrest and $5,000 for information leading to arrests of Eric Powell and Earnest Proge.
The judge was frustrated the three men would stand trial for almost two weeks and then apparently flee before the verdict.
“What’s that say about these three?” Murphy said. “I’d like these three arrested today without exception. No bond. Understand?”
The Powell brothers and Proge were released on bond in 2012 despite a history of running from police, violating probation or committing crimes while free on bond. Federal prosecutors did not ask a judge to jail Carlos Powell, the drug kingpin, or request temporary detention.
The three men wore fezzes to court each day.
The men said they were members of the Moorish Science Temple of America. One court filing, on Moorish Science Temple of America letterhead, alleged the Powell brothers were not subject to U.S. laws and offered to pay money to settle the criminal charges. The judge dismissed the letter as frivolous.
From The Detroit News:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140605/METRO01/306050053#ixzz33lswllrn
