A State of Washington Man Involved in a Massive Drug Distribution Scheme Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Federal Prison

DETROIT - A State of Washington man was sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison for his role in an armed drug conspiracy that amassed nearly 200 pounds of methamphetamine and other controlled substances, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Detroit Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

Antonio D.J. Mitchell, 39, of Seattle, Washington was sentenced to 150 months in prison by United States District Judge Linda V. Parker.

According to court documents, DEA and USPIS agents learned through their investigation that Keith Haskins had been mailing kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine from California to his associate in Detroit, Kennie Smith. Federal agents intercepted several of these parcels, many of which contained drugs packaged inside of plastic buckets from a hardware store chain. Smith then managed distribution in the Detroit area from several of his properties.

Haskins later recruited Mitchell to assist with transporting drugs and drug proceeds between the southwestern United States and Michigan. Haskins and Mitchell eventually moved to Detroit and expanded their operations. The pair rented a storage unit and a downtown apartment where, in November 2021, agents found over 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, seven firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including a drum-style magazine.

Four members of the conspiracy were charged in federal court. Haskins, Smith, and Mitchell each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as possessing or attempting to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Haskins, 47, of San Bernardino County, California, was previously sentenced to 18 years in prison. Smith, 46, of Clinton Township, Michigan, received 125 months in prison. The fourth defendant, Chalisa Sawyer, is awaiting trial set for January 28, 2025.

"We will tirelessly pursue and prosecute drug dealers who continue to inflict harm on our communities with dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, whether near or far," U.S. Attorney Ison said. "The sentences imposed in this case, should underscore that goal. I commend our law enforcement partners at DEA and USPIS whose hard work helped achieve these significant results."

"At the time of his arrest, Mr. Mitchell and his co-conspirators were in possession of more than 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, and other illicit drugs. The fentanyl alone could provide a deadly dosage to 1.5 million people," said Special Agent in Charge Orville. "DEA remains committed to dismantling criminal organizations who exchange lives for monetary gain and blatantly ignore the laws of this nation."

"The sentences handed down thus far for these co-conspirators underscore the seriousness of the crimes at hand and the resolve with which we strive to secure the nation's mail system and keep our customers and communities safe," said Inspector in Charge Hopkins. "Crucial to the success of this mission are the relationships we maintain with partners at all levels. We would like to express sincere appreciation the DEA's Detroit Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for their tireless work with us to achieve a successful outcome in this investigation."

This case was investigated by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Franzinger.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.