DETROIT – A brazen scheme to distribute nearly $800,000 worth of opioids has been uncovered, and the masterminds behind it have been charged.
According to the indictment, Dangelo Terrell Stephens, 38, of Detroit, Latasha Maria Neely, 38, of Detroit, Hassan Samir Saad, 33, of Dearborn, and Ali Hussein Keblawi, 26, of Dearborn, conspired to distribute prescription drugs illegally.
The indictment alleges that from June 2020 through July 2021, Stephens and Neely worked as patient recruiters/marketers, who would bring “patients” or patient information to area doctors and clinics. Those doctors and clinics, which include the owner, operators, and physician at Tranquility Wellness Center, who have been indicted in a companion case, would write or cause the writing of controlled substance prescriptions in the “patient” names, without medical necessity and outside the scope of professional medical practice, in exchange for cash payments.
As part of the conspiracy, Stephens and Neely needed the cooperation of area pharmacies, including their owners and employees. Saad was a licensed pharmacy technician who worked at and owned Heritage Medical Pharmacy, LLC, in Redford, Michigan. Keblawi was an employee at Heritage. In exchange for cash, Saad and Keblawi filled the unlawful prescriptions obtained by Stephens and dispensed, or caused the dispensing, of controlled substances to Stephens, and not to the patients to which they were prescribed.
The primary prescription drug-controlled substances illegally prescribed, filled at pharmacies, and distributed included Schedule II controlled substances Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, and Oxycodone-Acetaminophen (Percocet). These drugs were in high demand on the illegal street market, particularly Oxycodone 30mg and Oxymorphone 40mg.
Stephens is also charged with three counts of distributing Oxycodone pills, and Stephens, Saad, and Keblawi are charged with one count of distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of Oxycodone pills.
According to the indictment, Stephens and Neely unlawfully distributed a combined total of more than 28,000 dosage units of Schedule II opioid prescriptions during the conspiracy. These controlled substances had a conservative street value more than $775,000.
Also, during the conspiracy, Saad and Keblawi unlawfully dispensed a combined total of more than 5,500 dosage units of Schedule II controlled substances, carrying a conservative estimated wholesale street value of more than $150,000.
While most of the unlawful controlled substance prescriptions were paid for in cash, both controlled and non-controlled “maintenance” medications were billed to health care benefit programs by pharmacies. Billings to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary prescription drug medications and maintenance medications during this conspiracy exceeded $200,000
“The road to addiction often begins with prescription drugs,” said Acting US Attorney Mohsin. “It is for this reason we are focusing our efforts on removing individuals who contribute to the devastating opioid crisis in this country,”
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office.
Charges: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute prescription drugs, distribution and possession with intent to distribute prescription drugs, distribution of prescription drugs, and money laundering (for Stephens), aiding and abetting the distribution of prescription drugs (for Saad and Keblawi)
Defendant’s Name: Dangelo Terrell Stephens, Latasha Maria Neely, Hassan Samir Saad, Ali Hussein Keblawi
City and State: Detroit, Michigan
Exact Date: June 2020 through July 2021
Sentence or Outcome: Pending
Dollar Amounts: $775,000 (street value of opioids), $150,000 (estimated wholesale street value of opioids), $200,000 (billings to Medicare and Medicaid)
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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