Detroit City Wire

A Harper Woods resident was arrested today for distributing drugs laced with fentanyl that killed three Grosse Pointe Woods residents in June 2023, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and John G. Kosanke, Director of Public Safety, City of Grosse Pointe Woods.

Arrested was Aerian Porter-Craig, 32.

According to the complaint, Porter-Craig had regularly sold drugs to the three victims prior to the fatal incident. On the evening of June 9, 2023, Porter-Craig delivered drugs to Adult Victim 1 (AV-1) and AV-2 at AV-1’s house in Grosse Pointe Woods. Porter-Craig also made a separate delivery to AV-3 at her house in Grosse Pointe Woods. Outgoing communications from all three victims’ phones stopped shortly after Porter-Craig had been to each house. At AV-1’s house, police found a tray next to AV-2’s body with a rolled-up twenty-dollar bill and white powder that tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. At AV-3’s house, police found a tray next to AV-3’s body with a straw and a white powder that contained fentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine. Text messages indicate that the victims thought they were buying cocaine.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner determined that AV-1 and AV-2 died from fentanyl toxicity, and AV-3 had died from fentanyl and xylazine toxicity. Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer unsafe for human consumption but is sometimes mixed with fentanyl by drug traffickers.

“Three young people lost their lives as fentanyl continues to ravage our communities,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “Fentanyl is everywhere, which means there is no such thing as safe use of illegal drugs. Along with our agency partners, we will continue to pursue these cases and hold drug dealers accountable for their crimes.”

“The arrest of Aerian Porter-Craig, an alleged drug dealer, marks the next step for law enforcement in combating the illegal distribution of drugs such as Fentanyl,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The families of the three victims who tragically lost their lives can find some solace in knowing the FBI in Michigan, in collaboration with the Grosse Pointe Woods Police Department, remains committed to investigating and delivering justice to those affected by such criminal activities.”

“I appreciate all of the hard work that went into this investigation. The collaborative effort between agencies demonstrates our strong commitment to hold accountable those who plague our communities with these deadly drugs,” said Director Kosanke.

It is important to note that a complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Grosse Pointe Woods Detective Bureau. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Franzinger.