Macomb County judge candidate accused in cocaine-related crimes

A longtime criminal defense attorney who is a judicial candidate in Macomb County has been named in a federal court complaint related to drug trafficking, specifically cocaine.

Paul Zyburski, who is running for judge of 39th District Court in Roseville and Fraser, is accused of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking crimes between November and January, according to the complaint.

Neither Zyburski, who has been practicing law in the county for three decades, nor his attorney could be immediately reached Friday.

Zyburski was campaigning for the judicial seat as recently as a week ago, with posts on his candidate Facebook page on Sunday. He is one of five people vying for the non-incumbent, six-year judicial seat.

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The May 23 complaint was unsealed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

According to the complaint, the FBI began receiving information in 2014 that Antonio Lewis of St. Clair Shores and others were involved in the distribution of cocaine in the Macomb County area. In early 2017, an FBI-led task force began an investigation into Lewis' alleged illegal activities.

The task force determined Lewis had a party bus rental business, A&A Dynasty, and was seen doing hand-to-hand type drug transactions on or near the bus, selling cocaine in packs of about 1.2 grams, according to the complaint.

The task force, through a court order, began tapping a phone used by Lewis, who also has been accused in federal court.

One of the phone numbers that Lewis had frequent communication with belonged to Zyburski, who has his own practice in Mt. Clemens. The address for the phone number was Zyburski's law office, according to the complaint.

The complaint includes text messages between Lewis and Zyburski, including an exchange Nov. 27 in which Zyburski said: "Yo Oni I'm getting ready to go to Colombia can you get me in the mood."

Lewis replied "K," then "How many." Zyburski said "2" and Lewis said "K." 

Authorities said in the complaint they believe Zyburski contacted Lewis to buy cocaine prior to going to Colombia, with Lewis asking how many packages of cocaine Zyburski wanted to buy, with Zyburski replying two.

Authorities said in another exchange Jan. 20 they believe Zyburski contacted Lewis to buy cocaine for himself and a woman he was meeting up with, with Zyburski saying in a text message: "Coyote can you stop buy I got some 18 year old broad coming here so you know."

Officials allege Zyburski asked for two packages of cocaine.

Lewis had communication with Zyburski "on over 30 occasions where they engaged in criminal conversations regarding the distribution of controlled substances, specifically cocaine," according to the complaint.

The complaint and arrest warrant were sealed because of concerns Zyburski might flee prior to appearing on the complaint.

According to his candidate Facebook page, Zyburski is a long-term resident of Roseville and a Fraser High School graduate.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.