United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced today that four police officers and a Highwaymen Motorcycle Club (HMG) member were indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges ranging from lying to federal agents, lying to a grand jury, and committing various drug offenses. In addition, a formal criminal complaint was filed against Detroit area attorney Lee O'Brien for lying to federal agents.
(Media-Newswire.com) - United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced today that four police officers and a Highwaymen Motorcycle Club ( HMG ) member were indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges ranging from lying to federal agents, lying to a grand jury, and committing various drug offenses. In addition, a formal criminal complaint was filed against Detroit area attorney Lee O’Brien for lying to federal agents. All charges arose from an FBI investigation that resulted in the indictment of over forty HMG members and associates last year.
Mr. Murphy was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
David Tomlan, a Garden City police officer, was brought to the attention of the FBI by the Garden City Police Department after they discovered he had become an HMG member. ( Tomlan’s employment with the police department has since been terminated ). Tomlan was interviewed by the FBI on several occasions, and was subsequently charged with lying to federal agents about his contact and conversations with HMG member Robert Flowers, following a shooting incident at Flowers’ home. In addition, Tomlan has been charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and steroids, substances found during the execution of a search warrant at his home. HMG member Sean Donovan ( currently incarcerated by the state on stolen property charges ) was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and Vicoden.
Charges were also filed today against Donovan’s former criminal defense attorney, Lee O’Brien, who was charged in a criminal complaint with lying to federal agents regarding his possession, and subsequent sale of a stolen Camaro that he received from Donovan.
Brownstown Police Officer Michael Ramsey and former Detroit Police Reserve Officer Dennis Abraham have both been charged with lying to federal agents and to a grand jury. The charges arose when a patrol officer saw an informant in the HMG investigation meeting with an FBI agent and a detective from Brownstown. This was reported to Michael Ramsey, who discussed it with other officers. Dennis Abraham became aware of these discussions and later warned an HMG member that another member was an informant for the FBI. Both Ramsey and Abraham denied all of this when questioned by federal agents and an investigating grand jury.
Finally, Randell Hutchinson, a Hamtramck police officer assigned to a DEA task force, was indicted for participating in a conspiracy to distribute steroids. As part of his role in the conspiracy, Hutchinson advised HMG member Philip McDonald how to tell if law enforcement officers were focusing on him, tried to get state criminal drug charges against McDonald dropped by claiming him as his own informant, and ultimately disclosed to McDonald the existence of an FBI wiretap on an HMG member.
According to Stephen J. Murphy, “As troubling as any criminal charges are, these indictments are an egregious example of police corruption. It is conduct that undermines the public’s faith in the integrity of the criminal justice system and besmirches the profession of thousands of police officers and agents who perform their duties with the utmost integrity, bravery, and sense of ethics.” The charges carrying sentences ranging from five to twenty years and the fines are 250,000 to 1,000,000.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and by officers from the Brownstown Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane L. Marion .
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