Theodore Levin Federal U.S. Courthouse

The Theodore Levin Federal U.S. Courthouse in Detroit. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

(Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

DETROIT, MI -- Federal investigators believe multiple Detroit police were involved in a conspiracy to bust drug dealers, steal their stash, and in some cases, sell stolen drugs themselves.

Detroit Police Lt. David Hansberry, Officer Bryan Watson and Officer Arthur Leavells are the only three named in the criminal indictment -- along with Hansberry's friend, Kevlin O. Brown and Calvin Turner -- but there were multiple other conspirators, according to federal investigators.

A total of eleven Detroit police have been named in civil lawsuits alleging similar misconduct since summer 2015.

Hansberry, Watson and Leavells were first criminally indicted in April 2015, but more charges were added to the cases of Hansberry and Watson in a superseding indictment filed in February.

The federal government says the men monitored substantial drug transactions and intervened, "using their police authority to extort drugs, money and personal property."

A trial of Hansberry, Watson and Brian is scheduled to start at the U.S. District Court in Detroit on June 7, if pleas aren't arranged by May 4.

During the timeframe of the alleged crimes -- between 2010 and 2014 -- Hansberry received a promotion from sergeant to lieutenant.

Watson worked as a member of Hansberry's "crew" in the Detroit Police Narcotics Unit. Hansberry was known by the nicknames "Hater" and "Sarge," while Watson used the code name "Bullet."

Hansberry Watson indictment.pdf

Leavells pleaded guilty in June 2015 to conspiring to distribute more than a kilogram of cocaine, admitting to diverting cocaine from being entered into evidence, so that it could be re-distributed and sold.

He's scheduled for sentencing in late July, likely facing a minimum of nearly 4 years in prison and a minimum fine of $10,000, based on sentencing guidelines.

Hansberry is charged with 18 felony federal crimes; Watson with 16; and Brown with two. Turner pleaded guilty to conspiracy drug distribution in May 2015 and is set for sentencing in July.

Hansberry and Watson are suspended without pay. Detroit police media representatives couldn't immediately verify the work status of Leavells or other officers named in the civil lawsuits.

Detroit Police Officer Nicole Kirkwood told MLive she hopes to have that information Thursday.

The indicted officers were accused of conducting fake arrests and traffic stops using Detroit police gear and vehicles to steal drugs and property, sometimes from inside the victims' homes.

They didn't log the seized property or narcotics.

"Rather, they would divide amongst themselves the money, property and controlled substances obtained from their victims, and would sell the controlled substances in order to share proceeds of such sales," prosecutors claim in court filings.

Sometimes, Hansberry and Watson obtained warrants to legally search vehicles or homes but kept what they seized; and at times arranged the sale of heroin, marijuana and upwards of 5 kilograms of cocaine.

In addition to the criminal matter, there are two ongoing civil lawsuits.

Detroit-based attorney Michael R. Dezsi told MLive a year ago he believes the criminal indictments are "just the tip of the iceberg."

"Obviously, this problem was much more pervasive," Dezsi said. "It certainly it wasn't limited to these (three) guys."

Dezsi represents Timothy and Hatema Davis in a class-action lawsuit against various officers and the Detroit Police Department. The Warren couple claims Detroit police illegally raided their legal medical marijuana operation in late 2013.

Neither officers named in that civil suit, Lt. Charles Flanagan, former head of the Narcotics Unit, nor officer James Napier, who committed suicide in front of his parents' Sterling Heights home Jan. 22, 2015, were named in the criminal complaints.

Attorneys for the Detroit Police Department are trying to keep internal records about investigations into misconduct from being becoming public.

U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman in the David lawsuit granted the city a protective order that requires documents, such as Internal Affairs investigations and findings, be withheld from the public and destroyed or returned to the Department at the conclusion of the litigation.

The city argued release of the public information, especially to media, could unfairly "tarnish" the names of officers or associates not facing criminal indictment.

Detroit Narcotics Unit Lawsuit.pdf

The Davis lawsuit claims the officers "extensively tore apart" the house in a two-hour operation and, without ever presenting a search warrant or a receipt of seized property, took 50 marijuana plants and byproducts.

Police then took Timothy Davis to a seemingly abandoned building in Detroit and questioned him for five hours, the lawsuit claims.

He was eventually released and never charged with crimes, nor presented with any paperwork related to the raid.

"What I've heard generally is it's been about six officers that have come in the house," Deszi told MLive.

A court response to the Davis lawsuit called the grow operation illegal, and claimed police on Dec. 27, 2013 seized "77 marijuana plants, a box of loose marijuana, $275 of suspected narcotics proceeds, and Plaintiff Timothy Davis' vehicle."

Another Detroit couple, Anthony and Elaine McCallum, are also suing police, including Hansberry, Watson, Sgt. Stephen Geelhood, Arthur Blue, Larry Barnett, Amy Matelic, Steven Riley and Gregory Tourville.

They claim Detroit police lied in order to obtain a search warrant, then "battered" and arrested Anthony McCallum, who later had all charges against him dismissed.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig said last year after the criminal indictments that about seven officers were suspended and placed on paid leave in October 2014 related to misconduct.