An Arizona man with ties to Michigan has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for his involvement in a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy.
Jason Denmyers, 44, has become the seventh individual to receive a sentence as a direct outcome of the investigation, as stated in the press release by Andrew Birge, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering handed down a 324-month prison sentence, characterizing Demyers as a key figure in a nationwide drug trafficking organization.
Between August 2022 and July 2024, the organization was involved in the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine within the areas of Detroit, Lansing, and Kalamazoo.
The district attorney’s office stated that Demyers took personal charge of organizing the transportation of around 10 kilograms of methamphetamine to Michigan. Additionally, he collaborated with couriers who traveled from Michigan to California carrying proceeds from drug sales, and then returned to Michigan with illegal drugs.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers confiscated almost 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and eight kilograms of cocaine. They also seized various pieces of real estate that were being used to facilitate the drug trafficking scheme, along with jewelry worth approximately $325,000.
A total of 14 individuals were charged in the case, with 12 of them having already entered their guilty pleas. Meanwhile, two others are currently engaged in a pretrial diversion program. Sentencing proceedings are still ongoing and are expected to conclude by June.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lansing Police Department initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in October 2022. They collaborated with the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office for this operation, known as Operation Cold as Ice. This case was included in an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation.
“This case is a prime example of how a seemingly small investigation can evolve into a large-scale operation, thanks to the dedicated collaboration between our local, state, and federal partners,” said Lansing Police Chief Rob Backus.
