Detroit Man Dopes, Arms Up for 15 Years

Feds Slam Detroit Man for Fentanyl Trafficking, Gun Crime

Fort Wayne, IN – Vorheese D. Zanders, Jr., 32, of Detroit, Michigan, is headed to the slammer for 15 years after pleading guilty to possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Zanders was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release, a move that will undoubtedly bring relief to the community that suffered at the hands of the Detroit man’s fentanyl and gun trafficking operation.

According to court documents, Zanders and his crew of dealers came to Fort Wayne from Detroit in 2017 and 2018, where they peddled fentanyl and other illicit substances throughout the city. Zanders supplied the fentanyl, and the group dealt from multiple hotels and residences in Fort Wayne, often armed to the teeth.

This case was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Indiana State Police, and the Taylor Police Department in Michigan. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Stacey R. Speith worked tirelessly to bring Zanders to justice.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and the community. By focusing on building trust, supporting community-based organizations, and setting strategic enforcement priorities, PSN aims to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The guilty verdict and sentencing of Vorheese D. Zanders, Jr. is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies in Indiana and Michigan. As the nation continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic and gun violence, cases like this serve as a reminder of the importance of holding accountable those who seek to profit from the suffering of others.