A Detroit drug scheme's final player, Lavante Brown, was hit with a 10-year prison sentence on Wednesday. The 30-year-old man had copped to conspiracy and distributing fentanyl that led to death and mayhem on the city's east side, according to a report by The Detroit News.

Part of a seven-strong posse, Brown and his cohorts turned Yacama Avenue into an open-air drug mart, slinging fentanyl, crack cocaine, and heroin to drive up customers at their car windows, "as many times as they could afford," as noted in a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The scheme contributed to numerous overdoses, including one reported death, and turned homes into hubs for this illicit trade. Following the FBI's probe, the dealers were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman, with Anthony Foster and Willie Swift bagging 15 and over 10 years respectively, and others receiving varied terms as stated by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Special Agent Cheyvoryea Gibson, who leads the FBI in Michigan, called the outcomes of the case "a significant victory in our relentless fight against opioid trafficking and its devastating impact on our community.” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison echoed these sentiments, as per the U.S. Department of Justice, "These defendants believed that they could take over areas of our city, destroy neighborhoods, and risk others’ lives with impunity." She sent a notice that federal law enforcement officials wouldn't ignore such actions.

Investigation efforts by the FBI's Oakland County Gang and Violent Crime Task Force brought the drug ring down. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Hindelang spearheaded the prosecution, driving home the point that those endangering citizens' lives would face the full weight of justice. Gibson praised the task force's diligence, stating, "This case sends a strong message that we will not tolerate activities that endanger our citizens' lives and will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible accountable", according to the U.S. Department of Justice.