Four defendants were sentenced last week in separate cases in the Western District of Michigan, receiving lengthy federal prison terms for trafficking significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, including dangerous counterfeit pills designed to mimic legitimate prescription drugs.
Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Birge announced the sentencings today, emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by these dangerous substances.
“These cases — all resolved this week — individually and collectively demonstrate the serious, on-going threat posed by the trafficking of illegal drugs, especially fentanyl and methamphetamine, here in west Michigan and across the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Birge. “Thanks to the strong partnership with our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, our office will continue to prosecute these cases, and commit resources to disrupting the flow of these dangerous drugs into our communities.”
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According to court documents and plea agreements, each defendant possessed large quantities of drugs, primarily fentanyl and methamphetamine, which they intended to distribute.
The defendants sentenced last week are:
- Rene Arnold Ruiz, 52, of Kent County: Sentenced on Monday to 16 years (192 months) in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Ruiz pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025. In May 2024, during an incident in a Kent County storage unit, Ruiz was found with 8,558 counterfeit pills designed to look like Oxycodone 30mg, which cumulatively contained over 900 grams of fentanyl, along with over 400 grams of heroin. U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney described the offense as “grave” and the amount of fentanyl as “staggering.”
- Thomas Charles Davis, 50, of Kalamazoo County: Sentenced on Tuesday to 17 ½ years (210 months) in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Davis pleaded guilty on December 18, 2025. In July 2024, after previously selling pounds of methamphetamine to an informant, Davis possessed approximately 18 pounds of methamphetamine and 70 grams of cocaine in his Kalamazoo County apartment. At the time, he was on federal supervised release for a 2008 conviction; the court imposed an additional consecutive 30-month sentence for violating release terms by continuing to traffic drugs.
- Lonnie Laronn Morrow, 33, of Kalamazoo County: Sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years and 8 months (188 months) in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Morrow pleaded guilty on December 2, 2024. In March 2024, during a traffic stop in Kalamazoo County, Morrow possessed 10,863 counterfeit pills resembling Oxycodone 30mg, containing over 1 kilogram of fentanyl. A search of his apartment found over 170 grams of cocaine, over $12,000 cash, other pills, and three firearms. Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou noted the added danger of fentanyl being “disguised” in pill form.
- Dyland Edward Hughes, 32, of Kalamazoo County: Sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Hughes pleaded guilty on December 19, 2024. In July 2024, Hughes possessed over 500 grams of fentanyl and over 100 grams of cocaine in a Kalamazoo County residence. Chief Judge Jarbou found the offense “quite serious in terms of the amounts being brought into the community.”
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Officials highlighted the extreme danger posed by the quantities of fentanyl seized in these cases. The combined fentanyl possessed by Morrow, Ruiz, and Hughes totaled over 2.5 kilograms. According to the DEA, as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on individual factors. This quantity is sufficient to kill over a million people with little to no tolerance for the substance.
Acting U.S. Attorney Birge warned, “Everyone in the community needs to be aware: one pill can kill.” He added that criminal drug networks intentionally mass-produce fake pills marketed as legitimate prescriptions to deceive the public.
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“Taking criminals off the streets who are providing deadly amounts of fentanyl is a priority of our office,” said DEA Detroit Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Lawton.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Captain Michael Ferguson praised the “fine work” of the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET) and federal partners, sending a clear message that they will pursue those dealing drugs, carrying illegal guns, or committing violent crime.
Kent County Sheriff Michelle Lajoye-Young noted that fentanyl is a major driver of overdose deaths and that the Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team’s (KANET) work aims to uncover dangerous operations and prevent fentanyl from reaching neighborhoods.
Michigan State Police Detective First Lieutenant Rick Pazder of the Southwest Enforcement Team (SWET) highlighted the tragic overdose rates in Southwest Michigan and the commitment to saving lives and holding trafficking organizations accountable, calling the lengthy sentences “just.”
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