Feds: Man indicted after authorities make largest fentanyl seizure to date in Michigan

Federal authorities say they recently snagged the biggest seizure of fentanyl to date in Michigan, enough to provide "nearly two deadly doses" to everyone living in the state.

This week, a Macomb County man, who owns a gas station in Detroit, was indicted in the case, in which authorities say they found the fentanyl in a basement stash house in Detroit along with pill presses.

Barry Willis, 55, of Clinton Township was indicted in U.S. District Court on possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

It alleges his stash house had more than 40 kilograms of fentanyl.

"This case represents the largest law enforcement seizure of fentanyl in the state of Michigan to date," U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in the release. "We are incredibly proud of our law enforcement partners who conducted this investigation and recovered these deadly substances before they could harm members of our community."

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says 2 milligrams of fentanyl, just enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose.

What authorities seized at the gas station and stash house

Orville Greene, special agent in charge of the DEA's Detroit division, added: "This amount of fentanyl has the potential to provide nearly two deadly doses to every man, woman and child living in the state of Michigan."

Steven Scharg, Willis' attorney, said Thursday he just got the case and is awaiting discovery.

Law enforcement authorities executed search warrants March 28 at Willis' residence, the gas station — a Citgo on Livernois near Davison — and the stash house on Littlefield in Detroit.

They found 41 kilograms of fentanyl in pill and power form; more than 2.6 kilograms of cocaine; a large pill press; a small pill press; a narcotics press; a handgun; narcotics packaging materials; narcotics scales, and $18,000 in the stash house, according to a criminal complaint filed March 30 in federal court. Within the cash, it states, was $400 of pre-recorded buy funds.

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Authorities took Willis into custody at his residence, where they seized more than $133,000, 10 watches, one gold chain with a platinum pendant and a handgun, according to the complaint. At the gas station, it stated, they found more than $3,000 and a handgun.

The undercover drug buys

The investigation began in September when a Livonia police officer received information from a cooperating individual about Willis, known as "Blue," who was alleged to be involved in the sale and distribution of heroin, according to the complaint.

The cooperating individual bought suspected heroin from Willis in February and March as police watched the controlled purchases. Field tests were positive for the presence of fentanyl in both buys, according to the complaint. The search warrants followed in March.

Livonia Police said in an April 2 press release on the department's Facebook page the estimated street value of the seizure was $4.5 million and the case represents "the largest single seizure of fentanyl in Michigan and one of the largest in the country."

The indictment states Willis has a prior conviction for a felony drug offense, for which he was imprisoned for more than a year. He is being detained pending trial, according to court records.Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Feds: Man indicted after cops get largest fentanyl seizure in Michigan