Detroit heroin ring busted; 7 suspects charged

Deadly heroin overdoses are on the rise, claiming hundreds of lives in Michigan alone last year.

On Thursday U.S. attorneys and law enforcement announced the bust of a Detroit heroin distribution ring, having arrested five suspects and charging seven.

US Attorney Barbara McQuade announced charges for Albert Street, Floyd Shaw, Chris Coleman, Andre Little, Devon Street, James White all of Detroit and Carlos Cozart of Hamtramck.

"An indictment was unsealed and returned by a grand jury last week," she said. "Charging seven men with conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin."

"Two of the defendants Chris Coleman and Floyd Shaw are charged with separate counts with distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury."

Investigators say the men operated up and down Woodward between McNichols and Eight Mile in Detroit, but they also impacted the suburbs.

The seven used street aliases like "Dre" and "Dada" and conducted their operation like a business.

"They even went so far to hand out business cards on the street," said David Gelios, special agent in charge, FBI.

McQuade says five of the seven are in custody and scheduled to appear in federal court. But Little, also charged as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and Shaw, are still on the loose.

"Heroin is a problem in every community and it's these partnerships that are most effective," said Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O'Donahue.