Leader of Violent Lansing Street Gang Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced that yesterday Michael Anthony Granado, 32, of Lansing, Michigan was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney also ordered Granado to spend three years on supervised release after his confinement. Granado was a founding member and high-level leader of the Lansing area gang known as “Shake Da Bag,” commonly referred to as “SDB.” Information received by the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicates that SDB is a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates have been involved in numerous criminal activities in the Lansing area, including armed robberies, assaults, shootings, narcotics trafficking, firearms trafficking, and other illegal firearm offenses. On September 9, 2022, investigators executed a federal search warrant at Granado’s residence and located a loaded Glock Model 21 .45 caliber pistol in his bedroom.
“We will continue to bring the full force of the law down on violent individuals and criminal enterprises that spread havoc and fear in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is committed to disrupting illegal firearm and drug trafficking that hurt our communities. Violent street gangs and illegal firearm possession have no place in our district.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, working closely with investigative teams at the Lansing Police Department’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), the Michigan State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have identified and prosecuted several members and associates of the SDB street gang to disrupt the cycle of violence in Lansing. In addition to Granado, the following leaders, members, and suppliers of firearms to the SDB street gang have been sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in the past year:
Marquies Deshaun Davis: Sentenced in March 2022 to ten years for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Jevonte Steven Scott: Sentenced in August 2022 to nine years for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Krista Marie Sullivan: Sentenced in December 2022 to two years for making false statements during the purchase of firearms. Sullivan was a “straw purchaser” who purchased 11 firearms for Jevonte Steven Scott, who was a felon prohibited from legally purchasing firearms.
Keandre Keith Allen: Sentenced in May 2022 to over five and a half years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Violent gang members who commit heinous acts of gun violence will not be tolerated,” said ATF Acting SAC Craig Kailimai. “We are proud of the collaborative effort with the U.S. Attorney’s office, our federal, State of Michigan, and local partners resulting in getting these violent gang members off of our streets.”
“At the Lansing Police Department, we take pride in working with other agencies to get the job done. This case is a great example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement works together,” said Ellery Sosebee, Chief of Lansing Police Department. “We look forward to continuing these great partnerships and solving more cases in the future.”
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
