JACKSON, MI – Dominque Faulkner, 32, of Lansing, a member of the notorious Jackson street gang “Thorough Bred Family” (TBF), admitted in federal court today to conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. The guilty plea marks a significant development in a sweeping crackdown on the gang’s operations, which authorities say fueled a wave of violence and overdoses in Jackson County.
The fentanyl peddled by TBF wasn’t your typical street powder. Court documents reveal the gang specialized in distributing fentanyl in a rock-like, crystalline form, dyed in jarring colors – yellow, purple, and blue – a deliberate attempt to brand their product and distinguish it from competitors. Faulkner, along with his co-conspirators, allegedly flooded the Jackson area with the deadly substance, all while armed and ready to protect their illicit enterprise. Firearms were possessed by the gang in furtherance of the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
This case isn’t happening in a vacuum. U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison, alongside James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Detroit Field Division, and local law enforcement leaders, highlighted a coordinated effort that’s already yielded tangible results. Following the crackdown, Jackson County has seen a remarkable 48% reduction in non-fatal shootings, a 43% drop in fatal shootings, and a 50% decrease in overdose deaths – numbers that speak volumes about the gang’s impact and the effectiveness of the response.
Faulkner isn’t the only TBF member facing justice. Zaire Faulkner, 24 of Jackson, is already serving a 10-year federal prison sentence. Tommy Owens, 32 of Jackson, received seven years and three months. Mario Murguia, 23 of Jackson, is spending five years behind bars. Demarquan Smith, 21 of Jackson, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2024, facing a mandatory minimum of 10 years. But the investigation continues. Charges remain pending against Tamarious Faulkner, 27 of Houston, Texas; Demond Johns, 26 of Jackson; Brittany Bartkowiak, 30 of Jackson; and Heather Dolan, 37 of Jackson, all slated for a jury trial on March 5, 2024.
“The intersection of drugs and gangs almost inevitably results in violence in our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “My office, in coordination with our federal, state and local partners, will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals or groups who sell poison to our communities.” James Deir of the ATF was blunt: “The Thorough Bred gang and Dominque Faulkner have terrorized the Jackson community…Dominique is better off in prison where he can reflect and seek redemption for all the lives he ruined.”
Director Elmer J. Hitt of Jackson Police and Fire Services emphasized the importance of continued partnership in tackling this persistent problem. “We know it is a small number of individuals that wreak havoc in our community,” Hitt said. “Through our continued strong partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, it is a priority to identify these individuals and build solid criminal cases should they choose to engage in continued reckless and violent behavior.”
Related Federal Cases
- Acosta, Organized Fentanyl Trafficking, Greater Cleveland OH, 2023 · Illinois
- Tamarious Poogi Faulkner, Fentanyl Conspiracy, Michigan 2024 · Texas
- Timothy J. Jackson, Heroin Trafficking, West Virginia 2014 · Virginia
- John Doe, Trafficking in Fentanyl, Heroin, and Oxycodone, Michigan 2023 · Ohio
- Jerry J. Davis Jr., Cocaine Trafficking, Ohio 2024 · Ohio
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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