Man faces federal charges after November heroin bust in Sylvan Township
ATF agents say a Chicago area man was trafficking heroin through Washtenaw County on the way to Detroit when he was stopped by police in November.
Demetrius Sciplin, 40, was charged Thursday in a federal criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute heroin.
Sciplin, who was already charged in the case by Washtenaw County prosecutors, is not in custody. His attorney, Carla Marable, could not immediately be reached for comment this afternoon.
According to an affidavit by ATF Special Agent Scott Toth, Michigan State Police troopers pulled Sciplin's vehicle over on Nov. 2 on I-94 in Sylvan Township after he was driving too close to another vehicle.
Sciplin had a suspended driver's license, the affidavit says. When troopers asked where he was traveling, Sciplin said he was heading to Detroit from Illinois to visit a cousin, the affidavit says.
According to the affidavit, troopers asked to search the vehicle, and Sciplin consented, becoming "very nervous, moving around, scratching his head and not being able to stay still."
In the center console, troopers found a plastic bag containing a "large amount of suspected heroin." The quantity was not specified in the affidavit.
Sciplin told investigators he has been taking heroin to Detroit for about two months, making one such trip each week, the affidavit says.
He is paid $10,000 for each successful delivery, the affidavit says, and $800 for each trip, along with half of his eating expenses. A female passenger told investigators she didn't know about the heroin and was traveling with Sciplin to do "some shopping," the affidavit says.
The Livingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team was involved in the investigation.
Sciplin was previously charged by county prosecutors with delivery of a controlled substance of between 50 and 449 grams and driving with a suspended license.
In that case, he was released in early November on a promise to appear in court, Washtenaw County Jail officials said this afternoon.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Deborah
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:17 a.m.
He made a DEAL you know a DEAL Deal and the POPO"S had a tip and lied. Probably broke his tail light after the pullover.
d_a2
Tue, Jan 18, 2011 : 4:09 p.m.
i got a feeling they're gonna have a hard time tracking this guy down. Was he let go without a bond?
RJA
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
I see a lot of puzzle parts missing here, I hope our Police here or in Detroit don't believe the the lies I see here. When does he appear in court?
ronaldduck
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
Why do so many drug runners drive vehicles with broken taillights, burned out head lights, ect. and break traffic laws. Seems like you would want to avoid attention from the PoPo.
Deborah
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 6:26 p.m.
Harm Reduction Read about Learn About it It is the compassionate, rational effective policy that will more closely achieve that stated goals of the so called Drug War. The current Drug War is too profitable to change any time soon though.