A Battle Creek man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possessing and intending to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Nazzarie Acoy Carmouche-Heath, 29, was found with over one kilogram of fentanyl, including more than 4,700 counterfeit pills containing the drug.
The sentencing was announced by Timothy VerHey, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. “Prosecuting fentanyl dealers is always a priority for my office because this drug is particularly deadly. It is easy for casual drug users to overdose on this drug, especially when it is disguised as some other controlled substance like it was here. The DEA and the Battle Creek Police Department saved a lot of lives when they seized Carmouche-Heath’s drug stash,” said VerHey.
Authorities searched Carmouche-Heath’s residence in March 2025 and discovered two firearms, thousands of dollars in cash, and equipment used to manufacture counterfeit pills in his basement. The items included scales, trays, packaging materials, a blender, Tupperware sifters, a pill press, and cutting agents. Officers also recovered 4,714 blue pills designed to resemble Oxycodone (M/30), but which actually contained fentanyl. During questioning, Carmouche-Heath admitted that he possessed the fentanyl with the intent to sell it.
Carmouche-Heath pleaded guilty on August 21, 2025—National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day—to possession with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl.
Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon commented on the outcome: “This sentencing underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the deadly threat of fentanyl. We will be relentless in our pursuit of those who peddle this and other illicit poisons. With every resource and law enforcement partner, the DEA will continue to protect and save American lives.”
Counterfeit pills often look identical to legitimate prescription medications but may contain dangerous substances such as lethal amounts of fentanyl or incorrect dosages of active ingredients. These fake medications can pose significant risks because users may not know what they are ingesting.
For further details about counterfeit pills and their dangers, information is available through resources such as the Drug Enforcement Administration’s fact sheet and its One Pill Can Kill website at www.dea.gov/onepill.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan McGraw prosecuted the case.
This prosecution forms part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice that focuses on eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while combating violent crime through coordinated efforts among various law enforcement agencies.
