Eighteen Indicted by Federal Grand Jury on Drug Charges

Defendants Face up to Life Imprisonment

An indictment charging 18 defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana has been unsealed, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Robert Corso, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Chief Ralph Godbee, Detroit Police Department.

The indictment charges eighteen defendants—all alleged to be members of a national drug trafficking organization—with conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana in Detroit over the past 11 years. The 18 defendants are:

■CLARENCE WILLIAMSON, JR., a/k/a “Dawg” and “Junior,” 48, of Southfield, MI

■ANTHONY BERNARDE EDWARDS, a/k/a “Ant” and “Mick,” 40, of Southfield, MI

■DARYL KEITH SEWELL, a/k/a “D-Nice,” 43, of Arizona

■MALCOLM MARTINES LONG, a/k/a “Black,” 38, of Macomb Township, MI

■ISAAC JOHNSON SHEPPARD, 30, of Detroit, MI

■CARL LEE JONES, a/k/a “Pookie,” 30, of Farmington Hills, MI

■GEOFFREY LAMAR HIGHTOWER, a/k/a “Chief,” 40, of Wayne, MI

■DENNIS CORNELIUS TATE, a/k/a “Deezy” and “Terrence,” 36, of Belleville, MI

■KENDRAH SMARTT, a/k/a “Old Girl,” 46, of Colorado

■TERRENCE LYNN PRITCHETT, a/k/a “Cowboy” and “C-Bo,” 40, of Detroit, MI

■JOHN LIGHTING III, a/k/a “J-Rock,” 29, of Detroit, MI

■SHAUN DEVON ASKEW, a/k/a “Dot,” 28, of Detroit, MI

■JOHNNY RICHARDS, JR., 43, of Roseville, MI

■JAAMI TOWNSEND, a/k/a “Jam,” 33, of Plymouth, MI

■DENISE DARRINE WILLIAMSON, a/k/a “Neecey,” 42, of Detroit, MI

■ERIKA ROYCE FLOWERS, a/k/a “E,” 29, of Detroit, MI

■THEBERA SHLANDA FLOWERS, 47, of Detroit, MI

■TERRELL RAYNARD CLARK, 23, of Detroit, MI

Isaac Johnson Sheppard is in custody in Detroit, and Kendrah Smartt is in custody in the State of Nebraska.

“We need to find new ways to address gun, drug, and violent crimes,” McQuade said. “Our law enforcement agencies are working together to use our resources in strategic ways.”

“The FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners, particularly through our Violent Gang Task Force, and working with prosecutors to aggressively investigate drug dealing organizations,” Arena said.

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Robert Corso stated, “The arrests that stemmed from this investigation are strong examples of the positive results that can be achieved when state, local and federal law enforcement agencies work together to fight drug trafficking. The DEA will continue to work with our partners to make our community safer by focusing on dismantling violent drug organizations.”

The most serious charge in the indictment, conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of powder cocaine and more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, carries a penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment.

An indictment is a charging document and not evidence of guilt. Each and every defendant is presumed to be innocent. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Portelli.