Macomb Country drug kingpin bolts courthouse before guilty verdict

By Mitch Hotts, The Macomb Daily
POSTED: 05/12/14, 5:41 PM EDT | 3 COMMENTS

A drug kingpin from Macomb County and two cohorts disappeared from the federal courthouse in downtown Detroit on Monday afternoon minutes before a jury returned a guilty verdict, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Carlos Ellis Powell of Washington Township, along with his brother, Eric Jerome Powell of Franklin Farms, and Earnest Lee Proge Jr. of Detroit all fled the U.S. District Courthouse on Lafayette Boulevard right before they were to return to the courtroom to hear the jury render its verdict around 12:30 p.m.

“We’ve been told Carlos Powell was last seen walking away from the courthouse,” said Gina Balaya, a public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “The U.S. Marshals Service is leading the effort to find him and they are out on the streets right now.”

A fourth defendant in the drug ring, Kenneth Robert Daniels, 54, of Detroit, a former Michigan State Representative for Detroit’s Fifth District, appeared for the verdict and was convicted.

Carlos Powell’s defense attorney Deday LaRene declined to comment in an email.

The missing trio was part of what federal prosecutors labelled as one of the largest drug rings in the history of the metropolitan Detroit area, and laundered in excess of $21 million. They were convicted of trafficking hundreds of kilograms of heroin and cocaine, and thousands of pounds of marijuana, according to U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade.

Carlos Powell, 39, who went by the street name of “50,” was released on a $50,000 unsecured bond in February 2012 and ordered to wear a tether around his ankle. He cut the tether on Monday prior to the verdict being rendered, officials said.

Eric Powell, 36, and Proge, 36, were each free on a $10,00 bond.

The Powell brothers were known for wearing fez hats in the courtroom. Court records show the men were members of the Moorish Science Temple of America and wore the hats for religious reasons.

According to court documents, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2006 launched an investigation that uncovered a massive drug operation that continued through late 2010. The ring included 10 other defendants who already have been found guilty.

They operated a drug organization that dealt multi-kilogram quantities of marijuana, heroin and cocaine into the Detroit area. They would arrange for large amounts of money derived from the sales to be transported to Phoenix, Ariz., Mexico and elsewhere to be used to purchase more controlled substances.

The group used semi-trucks and vehicles equipped with traps and hidden compartments to transport the drugs and cash.

Since 2006, law enforcers have seized more than 12 kilograms of cocaine, 30 kilograms of heroin, and 1,000 pounds of marijuana, along with jewelry appraised at over $800,000, eight pieces of property in Michigan and Georgia valued at more than $750,00, 10 vehicles including a 2004 Rolls Royce, 2006 and 2008 Bentley, a 2006 Ferrari, four Mercedes, a Ranger Rover and two boats.

When agents raided Powell’s house in Washington Township, they uncovered $3 million spread throughout the house including under a television set, in the kitchen and in drawers, authorities said.

The missing drug dealers are considered to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Office at 313-234-5656.

Im surprised these guys weren't being held in custody during trial.

This is the guy who was linked to the mayor kwame Kilpatrick, it was alleged that he paid a bribe to Kilpatrick through this other guy to secure a $10 million loan from the pension fund. The guy who paid the bribe for him committed suicide.

heres a more detailed article about his case. this guy was swimming in money

Federal agents Wednesday arrested the alleged leader of an international drug ring based in Metro Detroit, which is accused of peddling hundreds of kilograms of heroin, cocaine and marijuana and stockpiling millions in cash.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration nabbed alleged drug kingpin Carlos Powell early Wednesday following a multi-year investigation. He was arrested at about 7:45 a.m. at his home in Eastpointe. Powell, who has homes in Detroit and Macomb County, is expected to be arraigned at 1 p.m. in federal court.

During the probe, the feds have seized more than $10 million in cash and 55 pounds of heroin. The size, scope and profits of Powell's alleged drug ring would rank him among the most prolific drug dealers in recent Detroit history.

"This surpasses everybody," said Carl Taylor, a criminologist at Michigan State University who has studied drug trafficking in Detroit. "That's very scary. That's a lot of heroin and a tremendous amount of cash, particularly at this time."

Powell, 37, allegedly headed a large-scale drug operation that has ties to Grosse Pointe, Ann Arbor, Detroit, West Bloomfield Township and Chicago, according to federal court records and interviews.

Powell's lawyer, N.C. Deday LaRene, declined comment.

"I'm not going to have anything to say about this," LaRene said.

The case against Powell is outlined in search warrant records and a Justice Department forfeiture complaint filed in federal court.

Besides the cash and drugs, the feds have seized a fleet of expensive boats and vehicles, including two Bentleys and a Ferrari, according to court records and interviews.The 55 pounds of heroin, meanwhile, roughly equals a quarter of the heroin seized by the DEA two years ago in Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky.DEA and Justice Department officials declined to talk about the investigation.

"It's an ongoing criminal investigation, and we're not going to comment at all at this point," DEA spokesman Rich Isaacson said.

Federal agents have spent at least 23 months investigating Powell. The probe was revealed in a forfeiture complaint filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Beck in December 2010 that summarizes the seizures and describes an alleged drug and money-laundering operation.

Since March 2010, agents involved in the Powell investigation have executed at least 16 search and seizure warrants across Metro Detroit.

On June 23, 2010, agents seized 13 kilograms of heroin in Ann Arbor.

Five days later, they seized $260,000 in Charlotte, southwest of Lansing.

In July 2010, investigators seized $5 million and 10 kilograms of heroin in Chicago.

Michigan State Police troopers found $2.2 million in cash after stopping a Chicago-bound vehicle along Interstate 94 in Calhoun County in September 2010.

A month later investigators seized $2 million and 12 kilograms of cocaine during a traffic stop along westbound Interstate 94 in Calhoun County.

The traffic stop involved a 2010 Toyota Avalon driven by California resident Margarita Vallejo, who admitted being involved in transporting money. She told investigators she flew from California to Chicago, rented the car and drove to an Ann Arbor hotel, according to federal court records.

A man arrived at her hotel room, placed suitcases in the Toyota's trunk, and she was instructed to deliver the suitcases to Chicago. Vallejo was charged with a federal drug crime in October.

The feds also have executed raids in Grosse Pointe, West Bloomfield Township, Detroit and northern Macomb County and obtained cellphone wiretaps.

The probe has uncovered evidence of money laundering.

In December 2010, federal prosecutors asked a judge to order Powell's luxury condominium in a hip area of Atlanta forfeited to the government. The condo was purchased with proceeds from the drug ring, Beck wrote in the forfeiture complaint.

Little is known about Powell.

He doesn't have a criminal record.

He is president of an Eastpointe-based company called Grand Towers Inc., which was incorporated in May 2000, according to court records.

The company's purpose is unclear and not identified in state records.

Federal court records offer insight into the probe and chronicle Powell's lifestyle.

Powell spent more than $750,000 on big-ticket assets, according to court records. And he never needed financing or a mortgage.

He spent $107,000 on a Bentley Continental, $25,000 on a 43-foot Sea Ray boat, $22,000 for a Harley Davidson and $173,000 on a home in West Bloomfield Township, according to the feds. And thousands more on diamond jewelry.

Most of it has been seized.

The allegations and big-ticket items draw comparisons to Detroit's infamous drug dealers.

Members of the Detroit gang Young Boys Inc., the pioneering heroin ring of the late 1970s and 1980s, spent lavishly on cars and jewelry and drew attention in predominantly white, upper-class suburbs, said Taylor, the drug trafficking expert.

"The big rollers, they wanted to take on the Tony Montana image. Look at 'Scarface' and the big house and big pool," Taylor said. "They think they can do that undercover. But all you do is draw fire, and you're going to catch hell."

The largest seizures happened Nov. 17, 2010.

That's when agents raided a $458,000 house linked to Powell in the northern Macomb County community of Washington Township.

The 3,244-square-foot home north of 26 Mile was one stop in several coordinated raids executed by drug agents that day that yielded more than $8 million in cash and seven kilograms of heroin.

The feds found more than $2.9 million at two homes owned by Powell and $5 million plus another five kilograms of heroin at an alleged "stash house" used by Powell, according to court records.

The heroin seized during the Powell raids sends a clear signal, Taylor said.

"This certainly signals heroin is not making a comeback, it means heroin is back," he said.

Pretty low bonds for the amount of weight they were moving

thought the same thing

Yup. The judge and prosecutors have no one to blame but themselves.

is it something to do with their not being any violence involved with their case. The bonds they got were probably chump change to them.

Well, sure. But that's why the prosecutors have to push for remand in these cases. I know it's tough to get judges to go along with, but at least make a show of it and ask.

Broken leg, legal breaks kept fugitive Metro Detroit drug dealers from jail

Robert Snell
The Detroit News


Detroit— Carlos Powell, one of the biggest drug dealers in Metro Detroit history, got bond and went on the run thanks to a bum leg.

Court records pinpoint exactly how the Macomb County man managed to avoid being jailed two years ago pending trial in a massive drug conspiracy case.

The records also reveal Powell, his brother and a friend, all of whom disappeared before their jury returned guilty verdicts Monday, have a history of running from police, violating probation or committing crimes while free on bond.

The back-story emerged Tuesday while a team of fugitive hunters searched for the three fez-wearing drug dealers, who face up to life in prison and $10 million fines.

The U.S. Marshals Service, meanwhile, offered a $5,000 reward for the arrest of each man.

The Powell brothers said in court filings that they wear fezzes because it is considered a religious headdress. They are purported members of the Moorish Science Temple of America and, according to court filings, not subject to U.S. laws.

Temple official Kenny Martin El of Greensboro, N.C., would not say Tuesday whether the group had helped the men flee or if he knew their whereabouts.

“We don’t want to elaborate on that,” he told The News. “They are in their skin, wherever they are.”

Before Carlos Powell showed up for his arraignment in federal court on Feb. 1, 2012, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Cares was going to urge a judge against issuing bond.

But the leader of one of the largest heroin rings in Metro Detroit history walked into federal court in downtown Detroit on crutches and a broken leg.

“Due to defendant’s incapacitation, the government agreed to a bond for defendant as long as it included GPS location monitoring and a curfew,” prosecutors wrote in a later court filing.

So Powell turned in his passport and promised U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Randon that if he ever fled and got caught, he would pay $50,000 — less than half the value of the Bentley Continental owned by Powell, who stockpiled millions in cash at his Washington Township home.

Powell cut his ankle tether Monday and disappeared after learning his jury had reached a verdict, court officials said.

The decision to grant such a small bond to Powell — a decision former federal prosecutor Keith Corbett called a “joke” — and Powell’s disappearance Monday sparked a round of finger pointing as a team of fugitive hunters searched for Powell, his brother Eric Powell and friend Earnest Proge.

After getting bond in early 2012, Carlos Powell wasn’t done getting in trouble but still managed to stay out of a federal prison while awaiting trial.

On June 18, 2012, Powell was arrested for driving without a license and failing to report an accident in West Bloomfield.

Unlike federal court, the West Bloomfield judge ordered Powell to spend 29 days in the Oakland County Jail.

His brother Eric Powell, meanwhile, had a lengthy rap sheet that included a conviction for fleeing and eluding.

Despite the record, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mona Majzoub released Powell on $10,000 unsecured bond and placed him on home confinement.

Between 1995 and 2003, Eric Powell was on probation for various offenses, including three drug convictions, and violated probation five times, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors pointed to his rap sheet in May 2012 when his defense lawyer unsuccessfully tried to relax bond conditions.

“During the course of this investigation, significant evidence was gathered that Eric Powell is a large-scale drug trafficker with access to very large sums of money,” prosecutors wrote.

Friend Earnest Proge, meanwhile, got a $10,000 unsecured bond from Majzoub despite leading state police on a 10-mile high-speed chase during the drug investigation.

On Sept. 17, 2010, undercover U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents spotted Eric Powell loading three suitcases into a Ford Flex at a home on Stricker Avenue in Eastpointe.

Powell drove to a warehouse and met Proge and a second man.

Proge left in the Ford Flex, heading west on Interstate 94. The DEA agents called Michigan State Police and asked a trooper to stop Proge.

“Proge fled from MSP and engaged multiple police vehicles in a high-speed chase,” Cares wrote in a court filing.

Proge eventually stopped the car and was arrested.

Agents looked inside the Ford Flex and found the suitcases. Inside, they found more than $2.25 million wrapped in heat-sealed plastic bags.

Agents examined the plastic and found a palm print. It belonged to Eric Powell.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy, who presided over the trio’s nearly two-week trial, was outraged Proge and the others were granted bond.

“I think it’s outrageous. Who gave them bond?” he asked prosecutors in court Monday. “Did you appeal that to me?”

Prosecutors shook their head no.

Before demanding prosecutors issue bench warrants for the trio’s arrest, the judge railed against the three missing drug dealers Monday after learning they had disappeared before the jury returned with a verdict.

“Absolutely outrageous,” the judge said.



From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140514/METRO01/305140028#ixzz31g3R57Pt

they will find these guys before the week is over

^^^^^^

yeah because they would have to be stupid men with no connections in order to make 20mil

they might never find them, they have the money to disappear

Something doesn't sound right about the bond hearing.
Think some of that drug money bought "political influence".

Drug link in alleged bribe of Kilpatrick's dad probed
Feds explore claim that $100K from heroin dealer secured pension loan
By Robert Snell
The Detroit News

Detroit— Federal agents are investigating whether money for a $100,000 bribe allegedly paid to former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's father came from an accused international heroin dealer, The Detroit News has learned.
The alleged bribe, first reported by The News in April, was paid to Bernard Kilpatrick by Detroit businessman Abner McWhorter to obtain a $10 million loan from a Detroit pension fund, the businessman's partner said.
Investigators are probing whether McWhorter borrowed the $100,000 from Macomb County resident Carlos Powell, who was indicted in January and accused of heading a large-scale drug ring, sources said.
The allegation surfaced Thursday, two days after McWhorter's business partner, George Kastanes, was arrested by federal agents in Florida following a two-month manhunt and a search for $5 million in missing Detroit pension fund money.
"My understanding is McWhorter borrowed money from the drug dealer to do the pay-to-play," Kastanes lawyer, Joseph Brien, told The News.
He did not identify the drug dealer by name.
A second source familiar with the investigation confirmed federal agents are trying to determine whether Powell bankrolled the alleged bribe.
The allegation offers insight into the ongoing FBI investigation of the city's pension funds, which in February yielded an indictment of former city Treasurer Jeff Beasley.
"The fact someone may be saying this and that an investigator is assigned to see whether it's true doesn't make it true," Bernard Kilpatrick lawyer John Shea said Thursday. "Bernard has always maintained that he had a legitimate business relationship with Abner."
Powell's lawyer did not return phone messages seeking comment Thursday.
A U.S. Attorney's Office spokeswoman declined comment.
The alleged bribe is the latest fallout from a failed $10 million pension deal to buy foreclosed homes. The deal with McWhorter's company, Paramount Land Holdings, led to McWhorter's suicide, legal battles and a search for $5 million in missing pension fund money.
Investigators have uncovered other ties between Powell and McWhorter.
Before he died, McWhorter had transferred some of the foreclosed homes to Powell's company, according to federal court records.
The property transfers were discovered by federal drug agents during a raid at Powell's home two years ago, according to a search warrant application reviewed by The News.
It's unclear why the properties were being transferred or if the real-estate deals were related to the alleged $100,000 bribe.
Kastanes, who was released from custody Thursday following a court hearing in Florida, does not know whether Powell loaned money to McWhorter.
"It could certainly be why the properties were conveyed to (Powell)," Kastanes said Thursday. "Anybody can make whatever assumptions they want on the damn thing.
"I don't think Abner had that kind of money."
Paramount's former attorney Ben Gonek said Thursday he does not know anything about an alleged bribe.
The alleged bribe was paid before January 2008. That's when the Detroit Police and Fire pension fund loaned $10 million to Paramount, which was formed in January 2008 to borrow money and buy foreclosed mortgages.
The loan went into default last year and McWhorter committed suicide in August amid accusations he was involved in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded the pension fund.
Before the loan was issued, McWhorter hired Bernard Kilpatrick's consulting firm, Maestro Associates, to work on the pension deal.
Bernard Kilpatrick received the bribe in spring or summer 2007 to ensure the pension fund, which included members of Kwame Kilpatrick's administration, approved the deal, Kastanes said.
Kastanes has said he was unaware of the bribe until after the loan went into default.
Prosecutors previously have accused Bernard Kilpatrick of wrongdoing related to the city's pension funds.
Bernard Kilpatrick, Kwame Kilpatrick and former city official Derrick Miller were charged in a racketeering conspiracy indictment with soliciting and pocketing more than $1.2 million in cash and property from people seeking deals with the city's pension funds.
"The allegations in the indictment are just allegations and they're contested," Shea said.
rsnell@detnews.com

They better move quick the FBI + ex Special Forces are gonna start sniffing out their massive balls

photos of their seized assets

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140...aring-fugitives

youre right

that's some crazy shit they got away what's with the hats though?

the hats are because they were claiming to be members of the moorish temple and not subject to federal law during their trial.

Also the government just upped the reward to a whopping $7500 from $5000.

They should be in canada by now. And cook was right. They are out longer than I tought. Kudos cook. You were right

Thanks for update.

I think some convict in NJ used the Moor hustle to either beat a charge or reduced sentence..and now lot of people with heavy charges try to use it. The defense is along the lines of claiming status similar to that of "technically" sovereign native american groups ....and that you are not subject to the rules of the constitution or united states codes or I guess state codes.

============================================

These dudes are looking like Mr. Cunningham from Happy Days though.

Money talks huh? Very interested to see where this goes.

Still no word on these 3 I see. They're either out of the country or right under the boys noses.

RUN RUN RUN!

By now they've all gotten plastic surgery and new identities. Probably in Brazil recovering in a 5 star suite with a couple beautiful Brazilian babes on each side of them.

You couldn't pay me all the monies in the world to wear a fez

do you wanna go to jail, or do you wanna go home?

Audio: Fugitive's drinking was bigger topic than flight risk at arraignment

Three who fled May 12 before guilty verdicts read still at large

Robert Snell
The Detroit News

Detroit— Federal prosecutors didn’t ask a judge to jail a fez-wearing drug lord pending trial or request temporary detention.

And now, following their convictions, the kingpin and two members of his gang are on the lam.

At Carlos Powell’s arraignment in February 2012, there was a prolonged courtroom debate about whether the dangerous drug lord, one of the wealthiest and biggest drug dealers in Metro Detroit history, could drink booze while on bond. But there was little discussion about release on bond.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Randon provided The Detroit News with an unsolicited audio recording of Powell’s arraignment, after Randon was identified as having released Powell on bond.

Powell, 39, was released without having to post any cash, even though Maureen Carmany of the U.S. Pretrial Services Office expressed concern that he could be a flight risk and a danger to the community.

An audio recording of Powell’s arraignment indicates Randon gave prosecutors a chance to request pretrial detention. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Cares, however, passed after Carmany recommended having the drug kingpin surrender his passport, agree to a curfew and wear a global positioning system ankle tether, among other conditions.

The recording reveals a discussion about whether the Washington Township man could drink alcohol while awaiting trial.

“Judge, I don’t understand the need for the no-alcohol provision,” defense lawyer Deday LaRene said.

“He’s currently on probation for operating (a car) while intoxicated,” Carmany said.

“OK. So he shouldn’t get drunk and drive a car,” LaRene said. “But there’s nothing in the facts of this case that suggests that Mr. Powell needs to be totally abstemious.”

“Well, if he wants to stay out, he’s gotta not drink,” the judge said. “I think it’s a fair condition.”

“You can’t have a drink when you’re under indictment — what’s the point?” LaRene said.

“(He) can have a drink,” the judge said, “it just can’t be alcohol.”

Laughter filled the courtroom.

“Judge, with all due respect,” the defense lawyer said, “that is not a drink.”



The News obtained the audio file as federal agents continued to hunt for the three men Friday. The U.S. Marshals Service has offered a $7,500 reward for Carlos Powell’s capture and $5,000 each for his brother Eric Powell and friend Earnest Proge.

The men stood trial last month on charges they operated an international drug ring.

The size, scope and profits of Carlos Powell’s drug ring place him among the most prolific drug dealers in Metro Detroit history. During a years-long investigation, 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.

Following a nearly two-week trial, Carlos Powell cut his ankle tether and all three men disappeared before their jury returned guilty verdicts May 12. The men face up to life in prison and $10 million in fines.

Powell cut his tether near the courthouse in downtown Detroit and escaped in a vehicle, Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Watson said Friday. He would not elaborate on the search.

Randon, who was recently named a federal bankruptcy judge, declined to comment about the arraignment or audio recording.

During the hearing, Carmany, the pretrial services official, recommended releasing Powell on bond, noting he had strong family ties to the area and owned a business.

Randon asked the prosecutor about bond.

“Is there any objection from the government to any of the other conditions that pretrial services has recommended or are you seeking detention?” Randon asked prosecutors. “What are you doing?”

“The government doesn’t have any objections to the recommendations pretrial services has made,” Cares said.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade declined comment on Friday.

Cares was going to urge Randon not to approve bond, but Powell hobbled into federal court in downtown Detroit on crutches because of a broken leg.

“Due to defendant’s incapacitation, the government agreed to a bond for defendant as long as it included GPS location monitoring and a curfew,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

Given the amount of cash generated by the drug ring and nature of the charges, veteran defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Keith Corbett called Powell’s bond “a joke.”

The trial was notable for more than drugs and cash. 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. U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy, who handled the trial, dismissed the letter as frivolous.

A local Moorish Science Temple of America leader said the men were not members and wore the fezzes in a bid to sway jurors.

“They wore fezzes without comment from me,” Murphy said in court after the men fled. “I thought it was highly offensive and disrespectful.”



From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140602/METRO08/306020022#ixzz33W0G1rra

Govt. seized the drugs and $21 million cash.Whether these guys ever spent a day in prison was irrelevant.

I don't know much about how bonds/bail work but....isn't it odd that if your facing life in prison (as that article suggests) that you would get any bond at all?

If I was facing more than 10 years I'd probably run...let alone life.

it's the same way how rapist get four years in prison (maybe)

drug dealers get forty years for having four rocks