U.S. Department of Justice

Stephen J. Murphy United States Attorney Eastern District of Michigan

Suite 2001 211 West Fort Street
Detroit, Michigan 48226-327

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Gina Balaya (313) 226-9758
Dawn Clenney - FBI (313) 237-4206

June 6, 2008

EVENT: Guilty Verdict Defendant: Ghassan Slewa et al

THREE PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION

Three persons were found guilty today of conspiring to possess almost a half ton of marijuana by a federal jury in Detroit, United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced today.

Murphy was joined in the announcement by FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew Arena of the Detroit Division.

Found guilty were Ghassan Slewa, 39, of Sterling Heights, Amar Sliwo of Sterling Heights and Bassil Yousif, 41, of Madison Heights.

The jury deliberated for about three hours before returning the verdict, concluding a two-day trial before United States District Judge Avern Cohn..

The evidence presented during the trial showed that on February 26, 2006 the three defendants and several others had agreed to a scheme to pick up and sell over 900 pounds of marijuana. The defendants had been under surveillance most of that day by a task force of FBI agents, Michigan State Police officers and officers from the Sterling Heights Police Department. As a result of the surveillance, a uniformed Michigan State Trooper was able to stop a van occupied by defendant Yousif. The van contained 908 pounds of marijuana. The evidence showed that defendants Slewa and Sliwo were involved in obtaining the van and assuring that the marijuana was properly obtained and delivered.

United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy said, “Bringing in half a ton of marijuana to Detroit by any means is a major drug violation that will result in a vigorous prosecution, such as the one that resulted in today’s guilty verdict.”

Both charges are felonies and carry a minimum sentence of five years up to 40 years imprisonment and a $2,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Michigan State Police and Sterling Heights Police Departments and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Leibson.