Plymouth Man Is One of 11 Indicted In Heroin Bust

Recently in federal court, eleven individuals, including William Deante Taylor, 37, of Plymouth, were indicted for conspiring to distribute heroin. 

Besides Taylor those indicted includes: Marcus Lashaun Banks, 31, David Lamont Loggins, 40, Marshall Francois Scurlock, 33, Andre Maurice Smith, 37, all of Minneapolis; Alvin Benex Collins, 56, Lamont Columbus Harper, 35, both of St. Paul; Damien Dwayne Eastling, 23, of Oakdale; Demon Robert Franklin, 36, of White Bear Lake; Steve Latimore, 38, of New Brighton; and Deon Dimitri McGhee, 32, of Columbia Heights were indicted for one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. The indictment, which was filed on Oct. 15, 2012, was unsealed Oct. 30. 

In addition, several individuals were charged with one or more counts of distribution of heroin or with possession with intent to distribute heroin. Smith, Collins, and Latimore were each charged with one count of distribution of heroin, Harper with eight counts, Scurlock with eleven counts, Eastling with six counts, and Franklin with two counts. Harper, Eastling, Scurlock, and McGhee were also indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Collins was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin. 

According to the indictment, from the year 2000 through Oct. 15, 2012, the defendants conspired with each other and others to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. On Aug. 22, 2008, Smith allegedly distributed approximately 25 grams of heroin. Harper, Scurlock, Eastling, Franklin and Collins purportedly distributed a total of at least 49 grams of heroin from February 7, 2012, to July 24, 2012.

Between April 30, 2012, and Aug. 27, 2012, Eastling, Scurlock, McGhee and Collins also allegedly possessed a total of at least 59.4 grams of heroin with the intent to distribute it. On Sept. 5, 2012, Latimore purportedly distributed 4.5 grams of heroin. 

If convicted, all the defendants face a potential maximum penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute one kilogram of heroin. Smith, Collins, Latimore, Harper, Scurlock, Eastling and Franklin face a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of distribution of heroin. Harper, Eastling, Scurlock, McGhee and Collins also face a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. 

This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force, the Northwest Metro Drug Task Force, the Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force, the St. Paul Police Department, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Lino Lakes Police Department, the New Brighton Police Department, the Plymouth Police Department, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Safe Streets Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst. 

(Information provided by a United States Department of Justice United States Attorney’s Office District of Minnesota press release.)