Member of Blumberg DTO Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Crack Distribution, Illegal Gun Possession (DOJ)

PHILADELPHIA - United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Michael Williams, aka Michael Jiles, 56, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 180 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Kai N. Scott last week for drug and gun offenses.

As detailed in court filings and statements, in October 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF") initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization ("DTO") known as Blumberg, operating in the area of 23rd Street and Nicholas Street, as well as 23rd Street and Ridge Avenue, in the 22nd District of Philadelphia. Investigators learned that crack cocaine and marijuana were consistently being sold by the Blumberg DTO in this area, and that Williams was selling firearms, as well.

The defendant was charged by indictment in March 2025 and pleaded guilty this February to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base ("crack cocaine"), 17 counts of distribution of crack cocaine, and four counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.

During his change of plea hearing, the defendant admitted that, from approximately January 2023 through March 2025, he conspired with co-defendant Tyrae Askins to distribute crack cocaine, that he sold crack cocaine on numerous occasions, and that he sold nearly a dozen firearms, despite being a previously convicted felon prohibited from possessing guns.

Askins is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha A. Arena and Branwen McNabb O'Donnell.