Clinton Township man charged in state’s largest fentanyl bust

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A Clinton Township resident who owns a gas station in Detroit has been charged with possessing over 40 kilograms of fentanyl.

Barry Willis, 55, was indicted in U.S. District Court 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. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment if convicted in federal court.

“This case represents the largest law enforcement seizure of fentanyl in the state of Michigan to date,” U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison said in a press 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 charges come after an investigation by the Livonia Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Michigan State Police and the Clinton Township Police Department lent a hand with the investigation.

According to the press release, Willis mainly lived in Clinton Township but had a stash house in Detroit. In the Detroit house’s basement, officers found the pills and the means to manufacture them (scales, presses, recipes). In addition to the drugs, officers found guns at the gas station and both houses. Over $100,000 in cash was found at the Clinton Township house.

“This major seizure of fentanyl has saved lives,” Livonia Police Chief Thomas Goralski said. “The great partnerships we have with law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels in southeast Michigan, enable us to make these types of investigations successful.”

Willis’ attorney, Steven Scharg, said he had no comment at this time given where the case is at.