Federal prosecutors last Friday unsealed an indictment charging 34-year-old Drew Boehme of Madison Heights in a widening federal probe tied to longtime gospel singer Tom Durham. The filing alleges Boehme conspired with Durham to sexually exploit a 17-year-old and to receive child pornography, deepening the criminal case that put Durham in federal custody last year. Prosecutors say the latest counts grow out of physical evidence, metadata, and interviews with church members gathered over the past year.
Second Man Now Facing Federal Counts
According to The Detroit News, the indictment names both Boehme and Durham on charges of conspiring to sexually exploit children and conspiring to receive child pornography. The outlet reports the counts were filed in federal court, lists Boehme, 34, as being from Madison Heights, and notes that Durham, 72, remains in federal custody at the detention center in Milan. Prosecutors say the offenses carry potential penalties stretching into decades if the men are convicted.
How Investigators Built the Federal Case
Local reporting indicates the inquiry began in May 2025 and featured an FBI search of Durham’s Washington Township home last summer, where agents say they recovered explicit images on a laptop dating to March 2024. That early field work, combined with interviews, led federal agents to bring the case before a grand jury, according to reporting by ClickOnDetroit. Those steps, investigators say, helped expand the probe beyond a single suspect.
Allegations Detailed in Court Papers
Prosecutors allege a victim identified in documents as “MV‑1” told investigators that Durham led her church choir and invited her to a hotel room in or around July 2024, where she says he groped her and pressured her to meet another church member. The complaint further claims that MV‑1 later had sex with a second church member while Durham watched and that photo metadata matched GPS coordinates linked to the girl’s home. Those details are laid out in the federal indictment and reported by The Detroit News.
Church Response and Local Fallout
The church issued a statement saying leaders reported the accusations to local authorities and that the matter involved a volunteer and an undisclosed individual who are no longer members, according to local coverage. The remaining members of the group that performed as the New Destiny Quartet changed the ensemble’s name after Durham resigned in May 2025, and the allegations have prompted conversations in faith and community circles about reporting and oversight. Earlier phases of the investigation and the reaction in the congregation were covered by ClickOnDetroit.
What the Charges Mean
The government filing, cited by CBS Detroit, says the conspiracy counts carry significant federal prison exposure, with prior reporting placing potential sentences in the mid-decade range for the most serious offenses. Prosecutors have said they intend to rely on evidence from electronic devices, witness interviews and metadata as part of a broader child-exploitation investigation. CBS Detroit has summarized the government’s stated sentencing exposure and the shift from local to federal control of the case in earlier coverage.
What Comes Next in Federal Court
With the indictment now unsealed, scheduling in federal court and arraignments are expected to follow, along with discovery and pretrial motions. The next phase of the case will be driven by additional court filings and by how prosecutors and defense attorneys handle evidence and witness testimony in the months ahead. CBS Detroit, along with other local outlets, is monitoring filings and public statements as the investigation moves forward.
