The leader of a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, officials said.
Jason Demyers, 44, of Arizona, who has “significant ties” to Lansing, Michigan, was one of the leaders of a national drug operation where large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine were distributed, according to a release from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge.
Between August 2022 and July 2024, his drug organization distributed the drugs in and around Detroit, Lansing and Kalamazoo.
“Demyers personally coordinated the shipment to Michigan of packages containing approximately ten kilograms of methamphetamine,” according to the release. “He also worked with couriers who flew from Michigan to California carrying thousands of dollars earned from drug sales and then flew back to Michigan carrying kilograms of illegal drugs.”
While investigating, authorities seized the following:
- 10 kilograms of methamphetamine
- eight kilograms of cocaine
- multiple pieces of real property that were used to facilitate the drug trafficking conspiracy
- jewelry valued at about $325,000
So far, 14 defendants connected to the drug trafficking organization have been charged. Twelve of them have pleaded guilty, while two entered into a pretrial division program, according to the release.
Seven of the defendants have been sentenced, including Demyers and the following individuals:
- Franchot Barnes – 324 months
- Jomo Grady – 210 months
- Evette Wallace – 110 months
- Jamar Goins – 78 months
- Lanise Moody – 40 months
- Jonathan Conner – 37 months
The rest of the defendants are set to be sentenced in May and June.
“Today’s sentencing of Jason Demyers for his lead role in a national drug trafficking organization is a victory for the American public and a defeat to drug traffickers everywhere. The special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation continue in their mission to disrupt the flow of ill-gotten gains that is the life-blood for these criminals,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “We will continue to be relentless in our mission to dismantle these drug trafficking organizations and bring the criminals who run them to justice.”
