Grand Rapids Man Involved in Interstate Drug Trafficking through U.S. Mail Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey, announced that United States District Court Judge Robert J. Jonker sentenced Cordairo Aqtavian Lambert, age 39, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to 20 years in federal prison for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute.

The investigation into Lambert began in July 2024 after postal inspectors in Arizona seized and searched a parcel addressed to a residence in Grand Rapids; that parcel contained over a half kilogram of cocaine. Inspectors identified Lambert on surveillance video mailing the parcel from Arizona. Lambert had previous felony drug trafficking and firearm convictions in both federal and state courts. Evidence presented at trial showed that Lambert frequently traveled to Arizona, often crossing the border into Mexico, in conjunction with the dates that other suspected drug parcels were sent. One year later, in July 2025, Lambert attempted to retrieve a parcel containing nearly two-thirds of a kilogram of cocaine from a residence in southeast Grand Rapids. When a Grand Rapids police officer attempted to arrest him, Lambert fled on foot and hid in a residential neighborhood, before surrendering to police. The images below are from evidence admitted at trial showing Lambert retrieving the parcel in July 2025 and fleeing police:

"Lambert is a recidivist drug dealer who refused to take any responsibility for his crimes," stated U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey. "The sentence he received should serve as a warning to career drug dealers and those importing drugs into our communities of the severe consequences for dealing drugs in West Michigan."

"We appreciate the work of the GRPD Vice Unit, along with our law enforcement partners, to focus on disrupting the flow of drugs into our area", said Grand Rapids Police Chief Joe Trigg. "Not only for the pain caused by drug addiction to individuals and families, but to stop the violence the drug trade frequently brings to our neighborhoods and the larger community."

The United States Postal Inspection Service, Grand Rapids Police Department, and Michigan State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and Stephanie M. Carowan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.