Drug, human trafficking ring broken up in Oakland, Macomb counties; four charged
DETROIT (WJBK) - Michigan's Attorney General announced on Tuesday that four people had been charged with multiple crimes in connection to an opioid and human trafficking ring.
According to Attorney General Bill Schuette, the operation was being run out of Warren, Madison Heights, and Soutfheild. The investigation began almost a year ago when the FBI and Oakland County Gang and Violent Crimes task force received a tip that a drug and prostitution ring was being run in Madison Heights.
It ended this summer with charges filed against Melvin Niblett, Corey Cooper, Maurice Rushton, and Jasmin McGinnis.
After the September 2016 tip was called in, Niblett and Cooper were being investigated and were caught selling drugs in Warren, according to Schuette. In a separate case, Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith also charged both with selling drugs.
In October, a tip came in that Niblett was using a Southfield hotel room to sell drugs and run a human trafficking ring. The tip claimed there were dozens of people involved but Niblett was at the top of the operation.
All four have been charged with a total of 24 felonies:
Melvin Niblett, 38, of Southfield is charged with 10 felonies:
One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years or a $100,000 fine or both.
One count of Conspiracy to Deliver 1,000 or more Grams of Cocaine, Heroin, or other Narcotic, a felony punishable by imprisonment of life or any term of years or a $1,000,000 fine or both.
One count of Possession with Intent to Deliver less than 50 Grams of Cocaine, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years or $25,000 or both.
One count of Possession with Intent to Deliver less than 50 Grams of Heroin, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years or $25,000 or both.
Two counts of Forced Labor Services involving commercial sex, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 15 years.
One count of Forced Labor or Services Forced Labor or Services involving commercial sex, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 15 years.
Three counts of Prostitution/Accepted Earnings, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years.
Corey Cooper, 45, is charged with two felonies:
One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years or $100,000 or both.
One count of Conspiracy to Deliver 1,000 or more Grams of Cocaine, Heroin, or other Narcotic, a felony punishable by imprisonment of life or any term of years or $1,000,000 or both.
Maurice Rushton, 57, is charged with 5 felonies:
One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years or $100,000 or both.
One count of Human Trafficking - Financially Benefit From - involving commercial sex, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 15 years.
Three counts of Prostitution/Transporting Person, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years.
Jasmin McGinnis, 27, of Canton, is charged with seven felonies:
One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years or $100,000 or both.
One count of Possession with Intent to Deliver less than 50 Grams of Cocaine, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years or $25,000 or both.
One count of Possession with Intent to Deliver less than 50 Grams of Heroin, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years or $25,000 or both.
One count of Human Trafficking - Providing for forced labor - involving commercial sex, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 15 years.
Three counts of Prostitution/Accepted Earnings, a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than 20 years.
Niblett, Cooper and McGinnis are in custody and a preliminary hearing will be held on August 21. Rushton was arrested in Ohio and must be extradited before he is arraigned.