Federal Jury Convicts Muskegon Man Of Conspiracy To Distribute Kilograms Of Cocaine And Other Drug Crimes

Conspirators used the U.S. Postal Service to Mail Kilograms of Cocaine from Texas to Michigan

<_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."><_w3a_listitem listvalue="GRAND RAPIDS" datavalue="GRAND RAPIDS"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="KALAMAZOO" datavalue="KALAMAZOO"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="MARQUETTE" datavalue="MARQUETTE"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="LANSING" datavalue="LANSING"> LANSING - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a federal jury convicted Srecko Darnell Walker, 35, of Muskegon, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Walker is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou on April 9, 2025, and faces a statutory mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison.

"Mr. Walker and his associates were trafficking large quantities of drugs into Michigan, which ruin lives and fracture neighborhoods," said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. "As part of our mission to keep Michigan safe, we're focused on disrupting the supply lines that bring these poisons into our communities. This case is a good example of that work."

Evidence admitted at trial showed that in 2021 and 2022, Walker worked with Steven Rasic, a Muskegon-based U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, to import kilograms of cocaine into West Michigan from Hugo Benavides, their Texas-based cocaine supplier. Walker coordinated the cocaine shipments, which were sent to vacant addresses on Rasic's mail route. Both Rasic and Benavides pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge prior to trial and await sentencing.

During trial, the jury heard that over the course of the investigation, law enforcement agents seized five kilograms of cocaine from the mail that Walker and his co-conspirators intended to distribute in West Michigan. In March 2022, investigators seized two kilograms of cocaine. After the seizure, Rasic tried to recover the parcel containing cocaine, falsely stating that he was acting on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, Rasic was trying to recover the cocaine on Walker's behalf, and text messages from Rasic's phone showed that Rasic had alerted Walker to the cocaine seizure. Months later, in October 2022, investigators saw Walker distribute cocaine to a woman in Muskegon, and later, inside Walker's residence, investigators found more cocaine, a cutting agent, and digital scale used to weigh cocaine.

The jury also learned that after the search of his residence, Walker admitted to importing cocaine through the mail, and told investigators that he sold his first kilogram of cocaine sometime in 2021. Walker also admitted to tracking some of the mail parcels that contained cocaine, including one parcel with over one kilogram of cocaine inside.

"Today's verdict sends a clear message that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, alongside our law enforcement partners, is committed to dismantling drug trafficking organizations that misuse the U.S. Mail for their illegal activities, including drug distribution," said Acting Inspector in Charge Felicia B. George of the Detroit Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "Our inspectors will aggressively pursue individuals like Walker, who recruit U.S. Postal Service employees to exploit their trusted positions in the distribution of dangerous drugs within our communities. Walker and his co-conspirators will now be held accountable for their role in spreading these dangerous substances across West Michigan."

"The men and women of the DEA Detroit Division remain committed to working with our state and federal partners to make our communities a safer place," said Orville Green, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of DEA. "Individuals like Mr. Walker who are distributing multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine into our communities must be held accountable for their actions."

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Michigan State Police (MSP) West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET) are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin J. Hakes and Stephanie M. Carowan are prosecuting it.

# # #