National Roundup

 Michigan

Drug case leads to life sentences for two men
DETROIT (AP) — Two brothers convicted of drug trafficking have been sentenced to life in prison, capping an unusual case that included a manhunt when they fled Detroit before the jury’s verdict.
Federal Judge Stephen Murphy III, a former prosecutor, says he hasn’t seen a larger drug case. He says he couldn’t add more comment “without being insulting.”
The government says Eric Powell and Carlos Powell sold marijuana, cocaine and heroin for five years. More than $21 million was seized, along with luxury cars.
The Detroit News says security was extremely tight last Friday. Carlos Powell says he’ll miss his children.
After sitting through trial, the brothers and a third man didn’t appear for the verdict. The Powells were captured in June after nearly a month, one in Georgia, the other in Missouri.
 
 Two brothers convicted of drug trafficking have been sentenced to life in prison, capping an unusual case that included a manhunt when they fled Detroit before the jury’s verdict.
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Grand Rapids-area teenager with a nut allergy is suing Amtrak, saying his rights were violated when he was barred from riding the train without an adult.
Amtrak’s website says kids ages 13 to 15 can’t travel without an adult if they have a life-threatening food allergy. Thirteen-year-old Noah Joseph wanted to ride to Dearborn from Kalamazoo with a 16-year-old brother last summer, but Amtrak said no when their mother tried to buy tickets.
A lawsuit was filed last Thursday in federal court in Washington. Noah’s mother, Karen Joseph of Cascade Township, says Amtrak’s policy violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Noah wanted to visit his grandmother in the Detroit area.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari declined to comment on the lawsuit last Friday.
 
Michigan
Former police ch­ief sentenced in Romulus case
DETROIT (AP) — A former suburban Detroit police chief has been sentenced to serve at least five years in prison for his role in a corruption case.
Prosecutors say then-Romulus police Chief Michael St. Andre and three of his detectives used drug forfeiture money to pay for prostitutes, alcohol and marijuana and to buy a tanning salon for the chief’s wife, Sandra.
Michael St. Andre was sentenced last Friday in Detroit. He pleaded guilty in May to racketeering, embezzlement and misconduct charges.
According to WDIV-TV, St. Andre apologized to the judge and his family during Friday’s sentencing hearing.
The three former detectives pleaded no contest to embezzlement charges earlier this month. Sandra St. Andre received a 7- to 20-year sentence in February.
 
Michigan
Pretrial hearing reset in referee’s fatal punching
DETROIT (AP) — A court hearing has been rescheduled in the case of a Detroit-area recreational soccer player charged in the one-punch killing of a referee who was about to eject him from a game.
Bassel Saad was due in Wayne County court last Friday for a hearing on motions. The prosecutor’s office says a new hearing date is Oct. 24.
The 36-year-old from Dearborn is charged with second-degree murder. Prosecutors and police say Saad punched John Bieniewicz on June 29, as Bieniewicz was preparing to red-card Saad during an adult recreational league game in Livonia.
Saad’s trial is to begin in December. Saad’s lawyer has said Saad is sorry for his actions, but called prosecutors’ second-degree murder case weak.
Bieniewicz lived in Westland with his wife and two sons.