Connect with us

Detroit, MI

Leader of conspiracy to sell cocaine, counterfeit pills over dark web in Detroit sentenced to prison

Published

on

Leader of conspiracy to sell cocaine, counterfeit pills over dark web in Detroit sentenced to prison


DETROIT – The leader of a conspiracy to sell cocaine and counterfeit pills over the dark web was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison.

Victor Hernandez, 31, of Detroit, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to distribute illicit substances, a conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, his distribution of counterfeit pills, and the use of firearms in furtherance of the crime.

Hernandez was sentenced on Wednesday, June 26. As part of his sentencing, Hernandez was ordered to forfeit the proceeds from his crimes in the form of a $3.1 million money judgment.

Hernandez’s sister, Carolyn Hernandez-Taylor, also pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to 60 months.

Advertisement

Court documents revealed Hernandez ran a dark web vendor site under the moniker “Opiateconnect,” selling illicit scheduled drugs, including cocaine and various counterfeit drugs.

The counterfeit pills were made to look like alprazolam, the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medication in the United States (including under the brand name Xanax), used to manage panic and anxiety disorders. However, they were, in fact, uncontrolled research chemicals that were not scheduled for human consumption.

Federal investigators worked for months to determine the identity of “opiateconnect” and the location he was using.

That investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Hernandez’s house in Detroit, where agents discovered a clandestine drug lab capable of producing upwards of 20,000 pills per hour.

They also found around three firearms, a “tub” containing approximately 600 grams of cocaine, thousands of pressed counterfeit alprazolam pills, $340,000 in cash, and more than $1 million in cryptocurrency.

Advertisement

—> Police break down how 2 women, 2 men in Metro Detroit helped move trash bags of drugs sold on dark web

Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.



Source link

Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions need backup QB as Kyle Allen to sign with Bills

Published

on

Detroit Lions need backup QB as Kyle Allen to sign with Bills


play

The Detroit Lions will need to find a new backup quarterback. Kyle Allen, the 30-year-old ninth-year veteran, will reportedly sign with the Buffalo Bills for two years and $4.1 millions, according to ESPN, reuniting him with his former coordinator Joe Brady.

Allen, who came to the Motor City a year ago after inking a one-year deal, appeared in just three games and attempted two passes this past season as starter Jared Goff logged 98.5% of the team’s offensive snaps at quarterback.

Advertisement

Allen’s greatest contribution came in the preseason, when he forced the organization to give up on its experiment with Hendon Hooker.

In the competition for the No. 2 job, Allen outperformed Hooker and made the former 2023 third-round pick expendable by bringing his stunted development into sharp relief. While Hooker struggled to move the offense when he was in command, Allen thrived in his four auditions, spearheading one productive drive after another for the Lions. He completed 79.5% of his attempts, throwing for 401 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. All the while, he exhibited a good understanding of the Lions’ timing-based passing game, giving management the confidence he could – if needed – relieve Goff in a pinch.

“I feel very comfortable with him,” Campbell said last August.

Advertisement

But as it turned out, the Lions were never forced to call upon Allen. Goff, who hasn’t missed a start since Week 17 of the 2021 season, remained reliably present.

The Lions hope Goff’s iron-man streak will continue.

But if it for some reason ends, Allen is no longer there to replace him.

Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Follow him @RainerSabin on X.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Detroit water main break snarls travel on East Jefferson Monday morning

Published

on

Detroit water main break snarls travel on East Jefferson Monday morning


Vehicles travel through water collected near water main break in Detroit. 

A water main break in Detroit is causing headaches for drivers and sending water into the streets of one of the city’s east side neighborhoods.

The break involves a 42-inch pipeline at East Jefferson and Burns Drive.

Advertisement

The breakage happened on Sunday, leaving only one lane open for each direction of travel.

Local perspective:

Advertisement

A day after the breakage, water was still gathering on the road of Jefferson Avenue.

Video captured of the scene Monday morning showed vehicles driving through ponds of water. Construction equipment were on site along with traffic cones.

The backstory:

Advertisement

This isn’t the only major disruption to water services in the region.

This weekend, a catastrophic breakage at 14 Mile near Drake impacted several Oakland County communities and thousands of residents.

Advertisement

Novi and Walled Lake were among those hardest hit by the breakage, which included dramatic scenes of waves of water washing down the road, submerging vehicles.

The Source: FOX 2’s Charlie Langton and previous reporting were cited for this story. 

InfrastructureDetroitInstastories
Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Water main break forces lane closures on Detroit’s east side

Published

on

Water main break forces lane closures on Detroit’s east side



A water main break in Detroit Saturday night has forced lane closures on a road on the city’s east side, according to city officials.

Advertisement

The incident on East Jefferson Avenue near Burns Avenue was reported around 9 p.m. Officials said a 42-inch water main in the area ruptured.

“Crews responded immediately early Sunday morning to shut off the main and to begin preparing for repairs,” Detroit officials said in a news release.

All residents in the area should have service “due to redundancy in the water system,” according to officials. Anyone who doesn’t is asked to call the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department at 313-267-8000. 

As of Sunday afternoon, the city has not issued a boil water advisory and says there are no issues with street flooding. 

Repairs are expected to begin on Monday and officials estimate they will be completed “around the middle of the week.”

Advertisement

One lane in each direction of East Jefferson Avenue will remain open at and around the area of the break until repairs are done, and bike lanes at the repair location will be closed.

Officials are asking motorists who drive through the area to budget additional time for their commute or seek an alternate route until all lanes reopen.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending