Muskegon Heights Gunman Gets 10 Years

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Stephen Adonis Conley, 30, also known as “Steph,” of Muskegon Heights, Michigan, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being sentenced for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced the maximum penalty handed down by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney, alongside a three-year term of supervised release to follow Conley’s incarceration.

The case against Conley began to unravel on September 8, 2016, when he was caught selling heroin to a police informant. A subsequent search warrant execution at his residence the following day yielded a disturbing cache: a loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a loaded .357 revolver, a substantial amount of cash, drug paraphernalia, and additional heroin. Conley was arrested at the scene and ultimately pled guilty on January 26, 2017, to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition – a charge that carries significant weight given his history.

Federal prosecutors pushed for the full 10-year sentence, arguing in a sentencing memorandum that Conley’s combination of drug trafficking and readily available firearms presented a clear and present danger to the community. They weren’t exaggerating. Conley’s rap sheet is extensive, including prior convictions for aggravated assault, domestic violence, another charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and multiple drug trafficking offenses. This wasn’t a first-time offender making a mistake; it was a repeat offender actively fueling the cycle of violence.

The Muskegon area has been battling rising rates of both violence and drug trafficking, and authorities see this sentencing as a significant win. “Trafficking in illegal drugs while having ready access to loaded handguns poses a significant risk to the community,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated. David P. Gelios, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the FBI, emphasized the impact of collaborative law enforcement efforts, stating, “While gang violence and drug trafficking continues to plague the safety and security of our neighborhoods, this sentencing underscores the continuing impact that the West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET) and Muskegon Violent Crimes Task Force is having on the ability of gang members to threaten our communities.”

The investigation was a joint effort spearheaded by WEMET and the Muskegon Violent Crimes Task Force, a coalition including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Michigan State Police (MSP), and the Muskegon City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Lewis prosecuted the case, highlighting the coordinated approach to tackling crime in the region. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office, and federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in the Muskegon area.

Conley’s decade behind bars serves as a stark reminder that those who choose to arm themselves while engaged in criminal activity will face the full force of the law. The streets of Muskegon Heights are a little safer, but the fight against drugs and gun violence is far from over. Expect continued pressure from WEMET and its partners to dismantle criminal networks and bring perpetrators to justice.