(CBS-DETROIT) — Three men have been charged in the murder of a Pontiac businessmanThe Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office announced this on Wednesday.
Sam Simko, 66, of Commerce Township, was found dead Monday at his business building in the 1000 block of University Drive in Pontiac around 8:15 p.m. Simko is co-owner of a marijuana farm in Pontiac, according to officials.
Prosecutors allege that William Creasy scheduled a business meeting with Simko at this company as a ploy to rob Simko and his company. Video footage at Simko’s business reportedly shows Creasy entering the business in a white Buick Lacrosse and entering the building alone Monday evening. While Creasy was at the business, a black Ford Expedition parked across the street pulled into the business parking lot.
When Creasy left the building, investigators say Scott Brown and Deonte Prophett left the Expedition, with Prophett holding a gun, and entered the business. After a struggle, Prophett allegedly fired two bullets, killing Simko.
“When they burst into the business, they basically executed the owner. They shot him in the head, then tied him up and put a bag over his head,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
An investigation revealed that the Lacrosse was registered to Creasy in Cincinnati, Ohio, and that he had rented the Expedition in Cincinnati on the day of the murder, prosecutors say.
Investigators believe Simko met one of the suspects at a cannabis festival in Ann Arbor, where they believe the suspects hatched a plan to set up a fake business deal and steal what officials say was more than 50 pounds of marijuana.
“The murder of Sam Simko was a senseless tragedy,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “His family is entitled to justice and we want to ensure that the killers in this case pay for their crimes.”
Creasy and Brown are charged with murder and armed robbery, while Prophett is charged with murder, armed robbery, possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Creasy and Brown were arrested in Cincinnati on Tuesday, while Prophett was arrested in Cincinnati on Wednesday. The three men are expected to be extradited to Michigan in the coming days.