Today, U.S. District Court Judge Gordon J. Quistsentenced defendant Quintin Howell, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, to 15 years’ imprisonment,concluding a multi-defendant joint investigation conducted by the Drug EnforcementAdministration (DEA), Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET), Michigan State Police’sSouthwestern Enforcement Team (SWET), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and BerrienCounty Sheriff’s Department. Howell conceded that his conduct involved over 100 grams ofheroin and the use of a Hi-Point, ACP Model 4595 assault rifle, with an obliterated serialnumber, in furtherance of his drug trafficking efforts. Additionally, the Court found that Howellwas a manager in the heroin trafficking conspiracy, recruiting and directing others to further thedistribution of the drug. The conspiracy Howell pleaded guilty to joining took place from 2013through August of 2015. Howell’s sentence was the final term handed down by the Court for nine total defendantscharged as a result of the Kalamazoo based investigation. The investigation involved two courtorderedwiretaps and 11 months of investigation by the law enforcement agencies involved.