Home Detroit Press Releases 2010 Detroit Man Sentenced to 14 Years’ Imprisonment on Gun, Drug Charges
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Detroit Man Sentenced to 14 Years’ Imprisonment on Gun, Drug Charges
Defendant Had Agreed to Murder a Federal Grand Jury Witness

U.S. Attorney’s Office July 09, 2010
  • Eastern District of Michigan (313) 226-9100

A 46-year-old Detroit man who accepted $800 and a few cartons of cigarettes to kill a federal grand jury witness was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment today, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Thomas E. Brandon, Special-Agent-In-Charge of the Detroit office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

From July 2007 to February 2009, Michael Keller sold nine firearms to an undercover federal agent, as well as a live grenade and body armor. Keller was prohibited from possessing firearms by virtue of prior felony convictions. Keller also trafficked in heroin, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana.

In June 2009, the undercover agent told Keller that a federal grand jury witness was preparing to testify against him. Keller volunteered to kill the witness, first setting a price of $9,000, then agreeing to accept $800 and several cartons of cigarettes. Keller also took an Internet-generated map of the hit location and a picture of the purported target.

Keller pled guilty to drug and firearm charges before the Honorable Stephen J. Murphy on January 28, 2010. In his plea agreement, Keller also admitted accepting payment for the murder of a grand jury witness but denied that he intended to go through with the killing.

In addition to his 14-year sentence, Keller will serve five years of supervised release.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the unprecedented, long-term law enforcement and community collaboration where federal, state, county and local law enforcement officials meet regularly and work in cooperation to reduce violent crimes and prevent recidivism by focusing on the “worst of the worst.”

Other PSN Task Force partners include the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, and the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Citizens with information concerning illegal guns, gangs with guns, armed drug trafficking or the trafficking of illegal guns are encouraged to call 800-ATF-GUNS. Callers can remain anonymous. This number is managed and answered by law enforcement, ATF agents who work directly with local police departments. For information about Project Safe Neighborhoods call 1-800-891-8881 or visit www.psnworks.org.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leonid Feller and Louis Gabel.

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