Flint man sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute heroin

FLINT - Isiah L. Claiborne, 38, of Flint, was sentenced last week to 224 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Detroit Field Division.

U.S. District Court Judge Shalina D. Kumar sentenced Claiborne following his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin. Judge Kumar ordered Claiborne's sentences to be served concurrently to his state sentences for felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm. Claiborne was convicted of those offenses following a trial in Genesee County Circuit Court involving the murder of Devaroe Davis. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on Claiborne's murder-related charges, and those remain pending in state court. Judge Kumar ordered that Claiborne serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

According to court documents, on October 1, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Claiborne's residence. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement officers seized over a kilogram of heroin, quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, and two semi-automatic firearms.

This investigation was conducted by special agents of the DEA's Flint Resident Office in conjunction with agents from the FBI and ATF offices in Flint.