MARIJUANA RING STOPPED, U.S. SAYS

A major Arizona-to-Detroit marijuana ring that allegedly generated
$178 million in drug proceeds was dismantled Monday, officials say.

It is one of the highest-volume drug rings ever busted in eastern
Michigan, said U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy. The 16-month state and
federal investigation resulted from the 2004 arrest of two men from
Arizona and Texas and the seizure of $4.8 million from a hotel in Novi
and a residence in Northville.

A criminal complaint and indictment unsealed Monday charged 33 people
from three states -- Arizona, California and Michigan -- with
conspiring to distribute marijuana, money laundering and other charges
from 1994 to this year.

Authorities said the ring distributed 33 tons of marijuana in the
Detroit area and plotted kidnappings and shootings to carry out its
activities.

The indictment accused Quasand D. Lewis, 35, of Detroit of being the
ringleader. Israel Corral, 37, of Tucson, allegedly supplied
marijuana. Lewis' girlfriend, Saeeda Walker, 36, and her brother,
Edward Walker, 34, both of Detroit, allegedly were Lewis' top
lieutenants.

Lewis faces the most serious charge -- running a continuing criminal
enterprise, which carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison. Lewis
and the others face other charges, including conspiracy with intent to
possess and distribute drugs, money laundering and using telephones to
facilitate a drug conspiracy. The penalties range from 4 to 20 years
in prison and fines of up to $4 million.The case started with the
arrest of the two men in Novi and Northville in March 2004. Police
were called to the StudioPlus Hotel in Novi after a distraught woman
told police she thought there was a body in a hotel room. Police
didn't find a body, but they found duffel bags containing bundles of
money, drug ledgers, a large scale and a lease for a home in
Northville, where they found a money counter. Two men were arrested on
drug charges. One is awaiting trial; the other was sentenced to 10
years in prison.

The charges unsealed Monday said Novi police also found cellular
telephones in the hotel. Investigators used them to track down other
alleged members of the drug ring.

The investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal
Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, FBI, assistant U.S. Attorney
Janice Terbush and other police agencies led to the seizure of 7,800
pounds of marijuana and $7.8 million traffic stops and raids in the
last year.

The ring used cars with hidden compartments to carry drugs and money,
false identification to travel and telephones with coded conversations
to conduct business.

The U.S. Attorney's Office wants ring members to forfeit $3.7 million,
five vehicles and 16 houses in Canton, Detroit, Farmington Hills,
Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Southfield, and West Bloomfield.

Authorities also are seeking a $178.1-million judgment against Lewis.