John Calhoun, 36, from Detroit, has been arraigned on multiple felony charges after authorities accused him of smuggling narcotics into Michigan Department of Corrections facilities through the mail.
Calhoun was arraigned on Tuesday (Aug. 18) in 36th District Court in Detroit.
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He was charged following an investigation involving the Michigan Department of Corrections, Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
Calhoun is charged with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony; one count of delivery/manufacture of a Schedule 1 controlled substance involving 50 to 449 grams, a 20-year felony; eight counts of delivery/manufacture of a Schedule 1 controlled substance involving less than 50 grams, each a seven-year felony; and eight counts of bringing contraband into prisons, each a five-year felony.
According to police, several pieces of mail sent to inmates at correctional facilities across Michigan were intercepted by MDOC in 2024 after officials suspected the packages contained narcotics.
Officials allege Calhoun, who was charged as a fourth-time habitual offender, was familiar with MDOC mail procedures and sent packages that appeared to be legal mail from an attorney but allegedly contained narcotics.
Officials said the packages were sent to eight correctional facilities:
- Thumb Correctional Facility
- Muskegon Correctional Facility
- Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility
- Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility
- Oaks Correctional Facility
- Chippewa Correctional Facility
- Kinross Correctional Facility
- Baraga Correctional Facility
The MDOC said it has stopped more than 100 incidents involving contraband from entering prison facilities since the beginning of 2026.
Calhoun is scheduled to appear again in 36th District Court on Aug. 24.