Texas Gang Leader Sentenced to 17 Years for Fentanyl Conspiracy

DETROIT – A Houston, Texas resident and leader of the violent Jackson street gang the Thorough Bread Family, 28-year-old Tamarious ‘Poogi’ Faulkner, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. today.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division, Colonel James F. Grady, II, Michigan State Police, Director Elmer J. Hitt, Jackson Police and Fire Services, and Sheriff Gary Schuette, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

Tamarious Faulkner, 28, of Houston, Texas, was the leader of the Thorough Bread Family (TBF), a violent street gang that primarily operates in Jackson, Michigan. Faulkner and his co-conspirators distributed large amounts of fentanyl in Jackson. According to court documents, the fentanyl sold by the gang had a unique texture and coloring. Unlike most fentanyl, typically sold in powder form, TBF’s fentanyl was sold in a rock-like crystalline form, and was often colored yellow, purple, or green, rather than the usual white.

As this new type of fentanyl pushed by Tamarious Faulkner and the TBF gang appeared on the streets, Jackson Police witnessed a spike in overdoses and violence. The mother of one of those fatal overdose victims, who described her daughter as ‘a beautiful soul,’ wrote, ‘Under his leadership, this gang has taken lives, destroyed families, and devastated an entire community.’

After the arrest and prosecution of many TBF members, including Tamarious Faulkner, Jackson Chief of Police Christopher A. Simpson noted that the Jackson community ‘almost immediately rebounded . . . violent crime was cut in half . . . overdoses decreased, as well as the associated crimes with it.’

Six other co-conspirators have already been sentenced as follows:
Demond Johns, age 27 of Jackson, was sentenced to 128 months in prison.
Dominique Faulkner, age 33 of Jackson, was sentenced to 126 months in prison.
Zaire Faulkner, age 26 of Jackson, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Demarquan Smith, age 23 of Jackson, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Tommy Owens, age 33 of Jackson, was sentenced to 87 months in prison.
Mario Murguia, age 24 of Jackson, was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

‘The people of Jackson deserve better; certainly, not thugs who think they’re above the law,’ said James Deir, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Detroit Field Division. ‘With Today’s sentencing, Jackson, Michigan, is a safer place to live,’ he added.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the Michigan State Police, Jackson Police Department, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Picek, Matthew Roth, and Craig Welkener.

The Thorough Bread Family’s reign of terror has finally come to an end. Tamarious Faulkner and his co-conspirators will now face the consequences of their actions. The people of Jackson can rest a little easier knowing that this violent gang is off the streets.