GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Nazzarie Carmouche-Heath, 29, of Battle Creek, is staring down a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to a large-scale fentanyl trafficking operation. The guilty plea came on August 21st, a grim coincidence coinciding with National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced the plea, detailing how Carmouche-Heath possessed and intended to distribute a staggering amount of the deadly opioid. Authorities seized 4,714 blue pills deceptively made to resemble the opioid analgesic Oxycodone (M/30), but containing pure fentanyl, weighing over 470 grams. Adding to the haul, over 600 grams of fentanyl were found in powder form. The total weight of fentanyl involved in this case exceeds 1070 grams – enough to kill hundreds, if not thousands.
“I hope everyone knows by now how deadly fentanyl is,” VerHey stated bluntly. “Our office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute the drug dealers who sell it. We especially look for cases like this, where the fentanyl was disguised as legitimate medication, a situation that can lead to accidental overdoses by the unsuspecting.” The deception inherent in packaging fentanyl as Oxycodone is a particularly insidious tactic employed by traffickers, preying on vulnerable individuals and masking the true danger of the drug.
The bust wasn’t just about the drugs. Law enforcement also recovered two firearms found near the fentanyl stash at Carmouche-Heath’s Battle Creek residence. This points to a dangerous combination of drug dealing and potential for violence, a common thread in many federal drug investigations. Carmouche-Heath pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2025.
Derek Ress, Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), celebrated the guilty plea as a win for public safety. “Our country continues to be plagued by fentanyl poisonings caused by these counterfeit pills,” Ress said. “Our communities can rejoice in taking another piece of this deadly drug trade off the streets, which will prevent future potential overdoses and tragedy.” The DEA worked in close partnership with the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD) on the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a sweeping nationwide initiative designed to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and stem the flow of illegal drugs into the country. The operation pools resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan McGraw is prosecuting the case, and Carmouche-Heath faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with the potential for life behind bars. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fentanyl crisis and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to combat it.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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