Fatal workplace shooting of marijuana business owner leads to murder charges for three men

Three men have been charged in the murder of a Michigan marijuana business owner who was shot dead at his work in the first homicide of 2025 in Oakland County.

On Monday night Sam Simko, 66, was found with a fatal gunshot wound at his business on the 1000 block of University Drive in Pontiac. Deputies were dispatched to the location after Simko’s business partner found Simko had been shot and called 911, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities arrived and pronounced the 66-year-old dead at the scene. Prosecutors said that Simko was set up by a man he met at a cannabis festival in Ann Arbor. It was there investigators believe the suspects concocted a plan to set up a fake business deal and steal up to 50 pounds of marijuana, CBS News reported.

One of the suspects, identified as William Creasy, scheduled a business meeting with Simko on Monday at this business. Creasy is captured on surveillance footage arriving at the business in a white Buick Lacrosse and entering the building alone.

While Creasy was inside the business, a black Ford Expedition parked across the street pulled into the business parking lot. Once Creasy left the building, investigators say Scott Brown and Deonte Prophett exited the Expedition, with Prophett holding a pistol, and entered the business.

Prosecutors said following a struggle Prophett allegedly fired two rounds, killing Simko. “As they burst into the business, they basically executed the owner. They shot him in the head, then zip-tied him and then put a bag over his head,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

“Sam Simko’s murder was a senseless tragedy,” stated Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “His family is entitled to justice and we are committed to ensuring the killers in this case are made to pay for their crimes.”

Creasy and Brown are charged with felony murder and armed robbery, while Prophett is facing charges of felony murder, armed robbery, felony firearm possession and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

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