A fourth man is facing felony charges for the slaying of marijuana businessman Sam Simko, gunned down in Pontiac on Jan. 13.
Christopher Matacia, 33, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is charged with felony murder, armed robbery, two counts of felony firearm and firearm-possession by a prohibited person for his alleged role in the robbery and murder of Simko of Commerce Township, killed at his cannabis grow facility.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office told The Oakland Press that extradition of Simko was approved Jan. 31. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said Matacia has a court hearing in Ohio on Wednesday and his mugshot is not yet available.
“The evidence suggests Sam Simko’s murder was the result of a well-coordinated and cold-blooded robbery of his business,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald stated in a news release. “Everyone involved in the senseless murder of Sam Simko will be brought to justice because Oakland County is, and must remain, a safe place to do business.”
Co-defendants in the case are William Gregory Creasy, 24, Scott Aloysius Brown, 28, and Deonte Damonte Prophett, 32, who face charges of felony murder and armed robbery for Simko’s death and the theft of approximately 50 pounds of marijuana. Prophett, who detectives believe fired the fatal gunshots, is also charged with using a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. They’re scheduled to next appear in 50th District Court on Feb. 11 for a probable cause conference.
According to the sheriff’s office, Creasy allegedly had arranged a meeting with Simko at the grow operation in the 1000 block of University Drive in Pontiac with the intention of robbing him and the business. Deputies were dispatched to the business at around 8:15 p.m. on Jan. 13 after Simko’s business partner found Simko had been shot and called 911. Simko was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been shot twice, officials said.
Felony murder is punishable by up to life in prison without parole. Armed robbery carries a penalty of up to life in prison. Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person is punishable by up to five years in prison, and felony firearm carries a mandatory two-year sentence, served consecutively to other sentences.
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