Fugitive apprehended in Mexico and removed to United States to face federal and state charges

DETROIT - Janero Van DeMario Garrett, 49, a United States citizen and multi-convicted felon, was apprehended in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico on July 17, after a joint operation conducted by DEA-Detroit, DEA-Mexico, US Marshals Mexico Foreign Field Office and US Marshals Detroit Office, FBI-Detroit, and Mexican authorities, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Garrett faces federal narcotics trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Michigan and state firearms charges in Wayne County, Michigan.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Joseph O. Dixon, special agent in charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Field Division.

According to the federal criminal complaint, on October 31, 2024, Garrett ignored Detroit police officers' attempts to stop his vehicle and fled at a high rate of speed. Garrett later fled on foot, carrying a roller bag containing 10 kilograms of cocaine. Investigators found the cocaine in a trash can along Garrett's flight path. On the same day, investigators found 3 kilograms of cocaine and $606,913 of suspected drug proceeds at his residence.

Portion of bulk case seized

Kilograms of cocaine located inside roller bag

"The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) works with our foreign partners to keep Americans safe by prosecuting drug dealers who harm our people. Hiding in another country will not save you. No defendant is beyond our reach," said Gorgon.

"This individual was wanted on federal drug trafficking charges, and today's arrest demonstrates that no one can evade justice indefinitely. Drug trafficking fuels violence, addiction, and instability in our communities, and the DEA will remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners around the globe to identify, locate, and apprehend those who engage in these criminal activities, and they will be held accountable in the U.S. justice system," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon.

If convicted of the narcotics offenses, Garrett faces at least 10 years in prison.

This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Detroit comprises agents and officers from numerous agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

This case is being investigated by the DEA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul Kuebler.

A complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent. It is the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.