DETROIT (WWJ) — A Detroit gas station owner has been formally indicted on federal drug charges in connection with what Livonia police officials say was the largest fentanyl bust ever made in Michigan.
U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison announced Thursday Barry Willis has been charged with several federal crimes, including possession of over 400 grams of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Willis, 55, was arrested at his home in Clinton Township late last month after a months-long investigation by the Livonia Police Department that began in September 2023.
Thanks to the help of a cooperating informant, who was in possession of drugs when he was stopped by Livonia officers, investigators were able to work the case up the chain, eventually leading police to Willis, who the informant knew as "Blue."
On March 28 authorities executed search warrants at Willis's home in Clinton Twp., his Citgo gas station and car wash on Livernois near Oakman in Detroit, and his suspected "stash house" in Detroit.
More than 41 kilograms — roughly 90 lbs. — of fentanyl in powder and pill form were seized along with methamphetamine, cocaine, guns and about $150,000 in cash, during the series of raids.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene said that amount of fentanyl "has the potential to provide nearly two deadly doses to every man, woman and child living in the state of Michigan."
"This case represents the largest law enforcement seizure of fentanyl in the state of Michigan to date. 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.," Ison said, per a press release.
Willis has now been indicted for possession of over 400 grams of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, according to Ison's office.
