Latest news with #JamesSmith
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
2 Michigan men sentenced for selling fentanyl that killed at least 7
The Brief Two men are going to prison for selling drugs that killed at least seven people in Kalamazoo. Authorities said the men believed they were selling cocaine, but it was really a substance containing fentanyl. KALAMAZOO, Mich. (FOX 2) - Two Michigan men who sold drugs that led to at least seven overdose deaths and multiple non-fatal overdoses in 2023 learned their sentences this week. James Smith, 42, of Kalamazoo, received a 20-year prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, while Patrick Donald Martin, 27, also of Kalamazoo, was sentenced to four years for use of a communication facility to commit conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death. The backstory The criminal cases against the men began on April 12-13, 2023, when authorities responded to numerous overdoses in the Kalamazoo area. Some of these overdoses were fatal, while others hospitalized people. "April 13, 2023, was a sad day in Kalamazoo County," said Captain Mike Ferguson, Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team/Crime Reduction Team. "We extend our condolences to the families who were deeply affected by this tragedy. Hopefully, these sentences will allow some closure to those involved. Additionally, this should send a message to drug dealers who continue to peddle deadly drugs in our community." Investigators traced the substance the victims had ingested to Martin and then to Smith. According to federal authorities, the men thought they were selling cocaine, but it was really a substance containing the highly-lethal fentanyl. "The distribution of fentanyl continues to take lives and destroy our communities and families," said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Byerly Birge. Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou noted that drug dealing is inherently dangerous because so many drugs on the streets have fentanyl in them. Dig deeper If you or someone you love is suffering from substance use disorder, there are resources available: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, Cope Network (providing free Naloxone and other harm reduction services in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Calhoun, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties), 269-580-8290, The Grand Rapid Red Project (providing free Naloxone and other harm reduction services in Kent and Muskegon Counties), 616-456-9063 (Kent County), 231-563-6865 (Muskegon County), The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has a webpage that identifies county-by-county services. The Source This information is from the Department of Justice.
CBS News
17 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Federal prison sentences handed down over rash of fentanyl poisonings in Southwest Michigan
Two Michigan men were sentenced to federal prison in the aftermath of fentanyl-related drug poisonings that resulted in at least seven deaths during spring 2023. James Smith, 42, of Kalamazoo County, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, according to the press release issued Thursday by Andrew Byerly Birge, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan. In addition, Patrick Donald Martin, 27, also of Kalamazoo County, was sentenced to four years in prison for use of a communication facility to commit conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death. "The sentences imposed on the defendants in this case reflect the seriousness of their crimes," Birge said in his statement. Law enforcement officials in the Kalamazoo area responded to numerous drug poisoning calls on April 12 and April 13, 2023, that resulted in multiple hospital admissions and seven confirmed fatalities. "April 13, 2023, was a sad day in Kalamazoo County," said Captain Mike Ferguson, Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team/Crime Reduction Team. "We extend our condolences to the families who were deeply affected by this tragedy. Hopefully, these sentences will allow some closure to those involved." Investigators traced back the source of the substance, which some people thought was cocaine but was instead a substance containing fentanyl, to Martin and then Smith, according to the press release. During sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou said drug dealing is inherently dangerous regardless of what the dealer thinks he is selling, adding that many street drugs "have fentanyl in it — it's just that prevalent." Jarbou also said appeared to be "inexplicable" that Smith continued to sell drugs after becoming aware of the numerous deaths and injuries in spring 2023. "That tells me the consequences of your actions did not deter you," the judge said before imposing the 20-year sentence on Smith. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, the Portage Department of Public Safety and the Michigan State Police.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Palliser's Smith On Activist Investing in Japan
Palliser Capital Founder & CIO James Smith discusses the prospects of activist investing in Japan. He speaks with Annabelle Droulers from the sidelines of 'Sohn Hong Kong Investment Leaders Conference'. (Source: Bloomberg)
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Eastern Michigan ending partnerships with two Chinese universities after security concerns from Congress
Eastern Michigan University said Wednesday it is severing partnerships with two Chinese universities after concerns from Congress. The university, located in Ypsilanti, said it received a letter in February from U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg and John Moolenaar, urging EMU to cut engineering teaching partnerships with Beibu Gulf University and Guangxi University. The congressmen claimed the partnerships present a national security risk. "The PRC (People's Republic of China) systematically exploits the open research environment in the United States, actively engaging in theft, espionage, and other hostile actions against U.S. universities perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," the congressmen said in the letter. EMU said it provided Moolenaar and Wahlberg with plans to terminate the partnerships. In a statement on Wednesday, EMU President James Smith said: "EMU takes seriously the importance of protecting U.S. national security. We are proud of our longstanding designation by the U.S. National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense education. EMU fully complies with U.S. foreign disclosure requirements. "Neither the BGU nor the GU partnership involves any research or technology transfer. These are exclusively teaching programs that do not teach cyber security. The course content for all offered classes is widely available in the public domain." Smith added, "EMU's teaching partnership with GU does not currently enroll any students and we are working with our partner to dissolve the program. After careful review, we have also elected to terminate our teaching partnership with BGU. We are working with BGU to ensure that the students who are currently enrolled in the program are able to complete their academic studies in an orderly manner." The congressmen also sent a letter to Oakland University and the University of Detroit Mercy to end programs with Chinese universities. CBS News Detroit contacted Oakland University. A Detroit Mercy spokesperson said they have "nothing to announce at this point." In January, the University of Michigan announced it was ending a program with Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley, also said they were terminating their partnerships in China. In the letter to EMU, Walberg and Moolenaar also pointed to the specific partnership with Beibu Gulf University and the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, in which faculty spend a year in the People's Republic of China for research. The lawmakers claimed the arrangement "effectively transfers U.S. national security resources and expertise to an adversary nation, directly contradicting the intended purpose of EMU's federal cybersecurity funding." They also pointed to the university hiring Yifei Chu, who was previously charged with making false statements to obtain a security clearance for work within the United States Embassy in Singapore. Chu pleaded guilty in 2023. "This raises serious concerns about EMU's vetting procedures and the potential for the transfer of dangerous technology that could be used against the United States by the PRC," the congressmen said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-Gwinnett IT deputy director accused of forging documents to redirect county funds
A former Gwinnett County employee is off the job after he was involved in a theft investigation earlier this month. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On May 15, the Gwinnett County Treasury Division identified suspicious activity related to a vendor payment and contacted the Gwinnett County Police Department. Authorities launched an investigation into Gwinnett County employee James Smith. According to investigators, Smith is the Deputy Director of Infrastructure and Operations within the Department of Information Technology. TRENDING STORIES: Georgia Tech student killing: Shooter snuck into apartment building, waited for victim, police say R&B singer Jaheim charged in metro Atlanta animal cruelty case President Donald Trump to pardon Todd and Julie Chrisley Investigators said Smith allegedly altered financial documents to try and redirect county funds. That led to Smith being arrested Tuesday morning and taken to the Gwinnett County Jail. He's now facing charges of computer theft, computer forgery and criminal attempt to commit theft by taking. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Gwinnett County officials shared the following statement with Channel 2 Action News regarding Smith's arrest: 'We are deeply troubled by the recent discovery of potential financial misconduct involving a former Gwinnett County employee,' said Gwinnett County Administrator Glenn Stephens. 'We are committed to transparency and accountability and are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into this matter. To preserve the integrity of the process, we will refrain from further comment.' The investigation is ongoing.
