Hearings for five out of the six men accused in the July 16th break-in at a Coleman marijuana grow house have been postponed. One of the suspects, Addiel Torres, 49, was shot during the alleged burglary. The hearings, originally scheduled for September 18th in Midland County District Court, will be rescheduled due to the number of defendants and a language barrier. Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks anticipates needing up to eight interpreters over the five-day hearing duration.
The suspects include:
All are slated to appear in district court for their preliminary hearings.
Meanwhile, Andy Gomez-Niebla, 37, has waived his preliminary hearing and will have a final pretrial conference at 8:30 a.m. on October 24th in Midland County Circuit Court.
Charges include:
The origins of some suspects trace back to Michigan, while others reportedly hail from Florida and Colorado. Determining the true identity of some has been challenging due to their use of aliases.
The incident on July 16th saw a response from Midland County Sheriff's deputies after reports of a break-in with shots fired. Torres was reportedly shot by a resident. Sheriff Myron Greene acknowledged the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in apprehending all six men swiftly.
In the chilly days leading up to Christmas, amidst the festive fervor and joyful anticipation, a chilling incident unfolded in the quiet town of Saginaw, casting a shadow over the celebrations. At a seemingly innocuous locale - a car wash named Tae & G's Hand Wash and More, situated on 2211 E. Holland Ave. (M-46) - a group of friends gathered, sharing stories, laughter, and sips of prescription cough syrup. Their jovial evening was soon to be marred by violence and tragedy, forever etching December 13th into the annals of Saginaw's history.
Central to this narrative were several key players, each with their roles to play in the unfolding drama. Delano C. "Scootie" Green, a 31-year-old Saginaw native, known for his love of motorcycles, music, and the infectious laughter he brought to every gathering. Allen J. Foster, a 35-year-old, who, as events would reveal, had connections and grievances related to Green. Marcus T. Gilmer, a 33-year-old co-owner of the car wash where the incident took place, and an unnamed third individual, shrouded in mystery but deeply implicated in the evening's events.
While festive lights twinkled in homes and Christmas carols played in the background, these lives collided in a whirlwind of accusations, confrontations, and ultimately, gunfire. This article dives deep into the sequence of events, eyewitness accounts, and the subsequent investigation to paint a comprehensive picture of that fateful night.
Prominent figures, including the father of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former state legislators, have rallied in support of Rick Johnson, ex-House Speaker, as his fate hangs in the balance amid bribery allegations during his tenure with Michigan's now-defunct Medical Marijuana Licensing Board.
Johnson's defense, led by attorney Nicholas Dondzila, submitted a memo late Thursday accompanied by letters from 20 influential personalities. Notably, among the writers were Richard Whitmer, former CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; ex-Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville; and ex-Representatives such as Larry Julian, James Howell, and others.
Richard Whitmer, in a candid statement, admitted, "We all err, but our true mettle is tested by our response." Back in April, he penned his belief in Johnson's potential for reform, stating that Johnson had committed a "grave error" but will ensure to steer clear of any misdeeds in the future.
The prosecution is pushing for Johnson, 70, to serve a minimum of six years behind bars. However, Dondzila argues for clemency, highlighting Johnson's cooperative nature with investigators, his unblemished past record, his years of public service, and the extensive support he's garnered.
The ex-House Speaker, a Republican hailing from LeRoy, held his position from 2001-2004. After serving his term, he became a lobbyist for 12 years. His subsequent appointment to the marijuana licensing board in 2017 by then-Gov. Rick Snyder has now become a focal point of controversy. Admissions of accepting over $110,200 in cash and perks from licensing aspirants have been confirmed, including alleged bribes of sexual deeds.
However, Johnson's peers, such as Richardville, remember him differently. In August, Richardville penned a letter emphasizing Johnson's effectiveness as a leader, despite not being "perfect and/or polished."
Many have described Johnson as a man full of regret, who shouldn't be solely judged based on this crime but on his lifetime's worth of actions. Edward Gaffney mentioned in June that Johnson feels deeply apologetic for the dishonor he has caused.
In related news, another defendant, businessman John Dawood Dalaly of West Bloomfield Township, recently received a two-year prison sentence for bribing Johnson. Meanwhile, two cannabis business lobbyists, Brian Pierce and Vincent Brown, await their sentencing on October 18th.
Former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson is under fire after federal court filings on Thursday revealed he accepted bribes during his tenure as chair of the now-defunct Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board. These bribes allegedly included cash, private jet flights, and commercial sexual encounters with an individual from the adult entertainment industry.
Johnson, alongside John Dalaly, Brian Pierce, and Vincent Brown, pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges concerning this bribery scheme. Johnson is said to have used his position to give unfair advantages to those offering bribes, such as a favorable stance on license applications and insider information about the Board's proceedings.
The prosecutors recommend Johnson serve at least 71 months in prison with a fine equal to the bribe amount, $110,200. The maximum potential sentence for Johnson is 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
During Dalaly's recent sentencing, his attorney emphasized Dalaly's non-involvement with the provision of the sex worker to Johnson. "I wanted to clarify that Mr. Dalaly had no connection with the involvement of a sex worker with Mr. Johnson," stated Raymond Cassar, Dalaly's attorney. Cassar's remarks suggest some had been speculating about Dalaly's involvement.
The prosecutors described the trio's secretive operations, noting that Johnson carried two phones to elude investigators and was cryptically referred to as "Batman" or "our friend". Such behavior, combined with Johnson's interactions with the sex worker, prompted prosecutors to label Johnson's actions as "utterly disgraceful".
The memorandum also mentioned a $2,000 payment by Pierce to the individual who had relations with Johnson. Prostitution, the exchange of money for sexual acts, is illegal both federally and in Michigan. However, Pierce faces no charges related to prostitution due to his plea agreement.
In April, Johnson admitted guilt and committed to full cooperation with federal investigations. His sentencing is slated for September 28th. Part of the unveiled scheme includes Dalaly's $4,000 monthly payments masked as "consulting fees" to Johnson's wife, Janice. Despite these revelations, Janice Johnson remains uncharged, as per Rick Johnson's plea agreement.
Mark Totten, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, hinted that the investigation remains ongoing, with potential additional charges.
In a recent federal case, a Detroit businessman, John Dalaly, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for bribing the former head of Michigan's marijuana licensing board.
Dalaly, 71, admitted to offering Rick Johnson, the board's chairman, at least $68,200 in cash and other incentives, including two private flights to Canada. Johnson played a pivotal role on the marijuana board, overseeing the review and approval of applications to cultivate and distribute medical marijuana. He held this position for two years until the board was dissolved in 2019.
Notably, Dalaly was an investor in a company that was in the process of securing a license from the board. As part of his strategy to gain an advantage, he made payments over several months to Johnson's wife, purportedly for assistance with the licensing application.
U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering was responsible for handing down Dalaly's sentence.
In Sturgis, Ryan Banaszak, the Director of Public Safety, has reported a series of break-in attempts at licensed marijuana establishments during the early hours of a recent Sunday.
Banaszak confirmed, "There were three establishments targeted, although details remain limited due to the ongoing nature of the investigation."
Within the bounds of Sturgis, eight retail marijuana dispensary licenses have been issued alongside three grow licenses, as per the records of the Cannabis Regulatory Agency. Of the establishments affected by these recent attempts, Banaszak disclosed that they represent a mix of both retail and grow facilities.
Addressing the broader context, the director emphasized, "Such incidents aren't unprecedented in our state. Currently, we're in active collaboration with various law enforcement agencies across Michigan on this matter. Consequently, to ensure the integrity of our investigations, we're maintaining discretion regarding specific details."
Earlier this year, in March, Michigan's Attorney General, Dana Nessel, signed off on 12 warrants in relation to suspects believed to be connected to a spate of 20 break-ins that targeted marijuana dispensaries in May 2022, as conveyed by her office.
A noteworthy incident from Nessel's report mentioned the collaborative effort between her office and the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department. This collaboration successfully led to the identification of involved individuals after one of them was caught in the act of trying to access the contents of a stolen safe — his method being to drop it from a significant height.
Moreover, Michigan State Police have recently sought the public's help to identify and locate two suspects. These individuals are believed to be responsible for a series of break-ins at marijuana dispensaries in Jackson and Calhoun counties, particularly in the wee hours of May 25th.
Helpful Links Categories Recent News