Articles Posted in Drug Charges

On Friday January 31, two people were arraigned on methamphetamine charges. 41-year-old Shannon Marie Little and 47-year-old Darrin Lee Wright, both of Cadillac, were arrested on Thursday after a three-week long investigation led authorities to believe the two were operating and maintaining a meth laboratory, according to a news article at Cadillacnews.com.

According to Detective Lt. Dan King, TNT (Traverse Narcotics Team) received a tip from an anonymous source claiming the occupants of the home located at 432 E. Harris St. were cooking meth. On the evening of the arrest, investigators found a meth lab inside the residence.

Both defendants have been charged with manufacturing meth, operating/maintaining a methamphetamine lab, possession of meth, conspiracy to manufacture meth, and maintaining a drug house. Little and Wright have also each been charged with five counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

Little’s sentence could be doubled if convicted due to her status as a repeat offender, as she has convicted previously of marijuana possession. Wright’s sentence may be doubled as well as he has a habitual offender, third notice.

The defendants’ pretrial hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, February 4.

If Little and Wright are convicted of the criminal charges against the, both will likely spend substantial time behind bars particularly considering their criminal status. The maximum penalty for operating/maintaining a meth lab is 20 years. Using a computer to commit a crime also carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If a plea agreement is not offered and the two go to trial and are convicted, each could potentially spend the rest of their lives in prison given the fact their sentences may be doubled.

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Last month, four individuals were arrested in connection with operating a mobile meth lab after Michigan State Police troopers with the Munising detachment stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. Troopers pulled over a 2003 Ford Taurus, and upon investigating discovered an active one pot meth lab according to news reports at The Daily News. Other meth-making components were also found in the vehicle.

Four people were arrested in connection with the mobile meth lab, including Trevor Maxon, 17, Cortne Cornish, 19, Jordan Maddox, 20, and Trent Howard, 21. All four were each charged with one count of felony manufacture of methamphetamine.

UPSET (Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team) detectives responded to the scene to collect the meth-making components and properly dispose of them at a secured holding facility.

Nearly two weeks after the arrests were made, one of the defendants entered a not guilty plea in in Alger County. Trent Howard pleaded not guilty on January 22. The other three defendants waived their arraignments in circuit court, and waived their rights to a preliminary exam.

Trent Howard is scheduled to appear in court on February 19.

All of the defendants in this case may face a maximum of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $25,000 if convicted. In Michigan, criminal penalties may be enhanced based on factors including criminal history, whether a drug crime occurred within close proximity of a park, church, school, or home, etc. The penalties for a conviction on drug charges in the state are extremely harsh as law enforcement and lawmakers continue the war on drugs. In fact, certain drug offenses will leave a defendant facing up to life in prison if found guilty.

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A Decatur Township man and woman are facing multiple charges after Van Buren County deputies seized a meth lab from their home. The individuals names have not yet been released as the investigation is ongoing and formal charges pending.

According to a news article at Mlive.com, police discovered meth lab materials inside a residence located in the 79000 block of 39th Street in Decatur Township. The sheriff’s office narcotics unit conducted a search of the residence after contacting the residents, a 38-year-old woman and 40-year-old man. Upon searching the home, investigators claim to have found numerous components used for making and smoking methamphetamine.

Authorities received a tip claiming that methamphetamine was being made inside the residence and discovered what they believe to be a meth lab operation after acting on that tip. Once the investigation is complete the details will be sent to prosecutors for review. It is expected the man and woman will be charged with maintaining a drug house, possession of methamphetamine, and operating/maintaining a meth lab.

Charges of operating and maintaining a meth lab are serious, leaving those convicted facing life-changing penalties. In Michigan, meth is a Schedule 2 drug which means it has a high potential for addiction or abuse. Not only is meth itself a dangerous drug, the volatile ingredients used in its manufacture make for a dangerous environment and often lead to explosions.

If found guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine or crystal meth, those convicted may face criminal penalties which include fines of up to $25,000, up to 20 years in prison, driver’s license suspension, potential asset forfeiture, and more. Penalties may also be enhanced depending on other factors.

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Last week, four people pleaded guilty in Kentucky in connection with a heroin trafficking ring; two of the individuals include two men from Michigan. In all, seven people were arrested by Rowan County sheriff’s deputies in October of 2013. Now, four have accepted plea agreements.

The two men from Michigan who pleaded guilty are 19-year-old Levaries (Mike) D. McCain of Farm Hills, and 20-year-old Dewan (Dre) Deante Goode of Detroit. Goode is alleged to be the leader of the heroin trafficking ring, and is charged with five counts of trafficking a controlled substance and engaging in organized crime. Goode was the target of an undercover drug buy in Ashland, Kentucky when he was arrested.

McCain is charged with engaging in organized crime, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of trafficking a controlled substance. His plea agreement leaves him facing a prison term of 11 years and an undisclosed amount of restitution. Goode agreed to a prison term of 15 years in his plea agreement.

Three individuals are also alleged to be involved in the heroin trafficking ring and are still being pursued by authorities; two of those individuals are also from Michigan, Kevin Perino Foy Jr. of Detroit, and Christopher Dixon of East Pointe.

Drug trafficking is extremely serious, and leaves those convicted facing life-changing consequences. Even though McCain and Goode accepted the prosecutor’s plea deal, 11 and 15 years in prison is a substantial loss in terms of freedom, particularly for young men their ages.

In the state of Michigan, those who are found in possession of a Schedule I substance such as heroin and who are determined to have had the intent to distribute or sell heroin will face severe criminal penalties if convicted. The punishment an individual will face depends largely on factors which include criminal history, amount of drug involved, and where the alleged crime occurred (such as within close proximity of a school, park, or church). Those found in possession of less than 50 grams of heroin and who are convicted of possession with intent may face up to 20 years in prison along with fines of up to $25,000. When 1,000 grams or more of heroin is involved, a defendant may face life in prison.

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On January 19, a 911 call led Michigan State Police drug enforcement officers to a residence at 8869 Eastern Ave. in Greenville. According to news reports at Mlive.com, the neighborhood was inundated with police following the call which led troopers to discover a meth lab which was described as “spread through the house.”

Two people were arrested in connection with the meth lab, 42-year-old John Vogl and 22-year-old Cassaundra Kidder. Records indicate that Vogl lives at the residence; Kidder is a resident of Wayland. Both Vogl and Kidder were charged with resisting and obstructing police, and operating/maintaining a meth lab in what authorities say was a one-pot “shake-and-bake” operation.

Both defendants appeared in court via a video arraignment, claiming they were broke when asked separately if they intended to hire an attorney. They are expected to receive a court-appointed lawyer. Vogl and Kidder are both scheduled for a pre-trial and preliminary exam on February 3 and 4. If convicted, each could face fines of up to $25,000 and/or a maximum of 20 years in prison.

In Michigan, meth possession with intent is a felony offense which leaves those convicted facing extremely serious consequences if convicted. It is imperative that you discuss your situation with a skilled Michigan drug crimes defense attorney immediately. It is important to keep in mind that because you have been arrested or charged, you are not already convicted; you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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A 45-year-old Flint man whose name has not yet been released pending his arraignment hearing has been arrested on federal drug and gun charges in connection with a shootout at his south-side Flint home, according to news reports at Mlive.com. The suspect, who is a convicted sex offender, is accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm and intending to distribute heroin.

On January 15, Flint police were dispatched to the suspect’s home after receiving a report of shots fired. In the meantime, the man was under investigation by the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) which had obtained a federal warrant to search his home. Police were called to the scene before the home could be searched by federal agents.

Upon arriving at the scene, police were told by the suspect that a woman had phoned him requesting to borrow money. When she arrived at his house, three men entered when he opened the door. He maintained that himself and the three men fired guns inside and around the residence, which authorities supported upon investigating due to evidence of more than one caliber of firearm.

An affidavit filed by an ATF agent stated that the home was searched by federal agents after being processed by Flint police evidence technicians. The search of the home allegedly revealed a .45 caliber handgun which had been reported stolen out of Burton, and approximately 68 grams of heroin that was separately packaged into various amounts.

The suspect had been convicted on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 1990, and is a registered sex offender who is required to register for life. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on January 22 and remained in custody.

Charges of possession of heroin with intent to deliver are extremely serious in Michigan. Heroin is a Schedule 1 drug, which means it is one of the most dangerous and addictive of all narcotic drugs and substances. Individuals who are convicted of possession with intent to deliver will face severe criminal penalties which include 20 years to life in prison and astronomical fines of between $25,000 and $1 million dollars. The specific criminal penalties an individual may face depend on a number of factors including the type/amount of drug involved.

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43-year-old Samer Hamed, former owner of medical marijuana dispensary Purple Med, recently pleaded guilty to delivery and manufacture of marijuana. Hamed was arrested after police learned he had sold marijuana at the business to a purchaser with a valid Michigan Medical Marijuana Act registration card. He was initially charged with the possession, manufacture, and distribution of marijuana along with maintaining a drug house.

Prosecutors maintain that a ruling made by the Michigan Court of Appeals in November made the sale illegal. The court ruled that those providing marijuana for medical use must verify that purchasers have a “bona fide” relationship with a qualified physician. Hamed allegedly did not verify this with the customer, who had located Purple Med on the Internet and was from out of town.

Hamed’s alleged partner in the business, Rick Hammad, was also charged however he was shot and killed in September, just a week before he was due in court on the charges.

Hamed is hoping he will be spared punishment by the State Supreme Court. He is scheduled for sentencing on November 18 before Kent County Circuit Court Judge George Buth, but hopes the Supreme Court will overturn the Appeals Court’s decision before then. If so, he could withdraw his plea and avoid facing up to four years in prison.

Michigan drug crimes attorneys know the “rules” regarding medical marijuana can be confusing or even misinterpreted, leaving those who are legally allowed to possess or sell marijuana to patients at risk of facing criminal charges.

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In October of 2012, 29-year-old Kurt Allen Smith was arrested after repeatedly trying to run a female Kalamazoo public safety officer off the road, according to news articles at Mlive.com. Following the incident officers found what they believed to be heroin along with components for manufacturing meth. Police also suspected Smith was under the influence of drugs. Now, police have released a dash cam video which captured the incident.

It all began when Public Safety Officer Laurel Palk was patrolling in the area of S. Park Street in Kalamazoo. As she traveled northbound, another vehicle began tailgating her patrol car. Palk claimed that she could not see the vehicle’s headlights in her rearview mirror. As the incident continued, Smith’s vehicle accelerated rapidly after swerving to the left, then swerving right. Palk said she had to brake hard to avoid a collision. The suspect made several attempts to run Palk off the road when other officers arrived to help.

The dash cam video captured Smith attempting to strike Palk’s car and run her off the road. After a few minutes, Palk parks her vehicle and waits for additional officers to arrive. When they do, Smith resists arrest; officers have to pull him from his vehicle and hold him to the ground.

At the time of the incident, authorities were seeking charges against Smith which included possession of heroin, possession of meth-making components, operating while under the influence of drugs, resisting and obstructing an officer, and felonious assault with a motor vehicle.

In Michigan, heroin is a Schedule 1 illegal drug which means it is one of the most addictive and dangerous, leaving those convicted of possession facing severe criminal penalties. In fact, possession of less than 50 grams of heroin may result in fines of up to $25,000 and up to four years in jail. Considering all of the criminal charges against the defendant in this case, it is likely he will face serious consequences if convicted; he is scheduled to go on trial January 28.

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26-year-old Chad Neiderquill requested to withdraw his guilty plea to armed robbery in connection with a September 2013 incident in which he allegedly robbed a Saginaw woman of prescription medication using a screwdriver. On December 23, Saginaw County Circuit Judge James T. Borchard approved the defendant’s request. Borchard agreed on the condition that Neiderquill apply for inclusion in Saginaw County’s Drug Court, according to news reports at Mlive.com.

Neiderquill was scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Borchard on January 9, however that was adjourned when the defendant withdrew his plea.

On September 4, Lillian George was putting groceries away when Neiderquill, whom 60-year-old George knew, offered to help her carry in the groceries. When all of the packages had been carried inside, Neiderquill demanded George give him her prescription medicines, including oxycodone. When she would not comply with his demands, he allegedly pulled out a screwdriver and held it over George’s head.

Neiderquill may be able to avoid prison time if accepted into Drug Court. Drug Courts require that the individual enter into a multi-year rehabilitation program in which those accepted receive services from multiple county agencies and intense supervision. He may also remain jailed for the duration of the program.

The maximum penalty in Michigan for armed robbery is life in prison. If accepted into Drug Court, Neiderquill may be able to avoid spending a substantial number of years or even life behind bars. Drug Courts are designed to help those who participate in criminal activity which results from an addiction to drugs, and focus on both punishment and rehabilitation.

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Two South Haven individuals were recently arrested on multiple charges including carrying an unregistered handgun and possession of marijuana, according to news reports at Mlive.com. The couple, a 38-year-old man and 36-year-old woman, were walking in Geneva Township when they were stopped by Van Buren County sheriff’s deputies.

Deputies reportedly were responding to reports of a domestic dispute between the two, who were found walking in the roadway at about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon in the 66000 block of 8th Avenue. When deputies questioned the couple, both denied that a domestic assault had occurred. Deputies also said they did not find any physical evidence that an assault had taken place, however the woman did have marijuana in her possession. The man was in possession of a .22 caliber handgun which was tucked inside his waistband in a holster.

Investigators stated that the man admitted to firing a shot at his home before leaving, but said that he was taking the handgun to show to a friend. Further investigation revealed the man has an extensive criminal history and is a known felon.

Both individuals’ names were being withheld pending their arraignments. The man was charged with carrying a concealed weapon violation, possession of an unregistered handgun, and felon in possession of a firearm. The woman was charged with marijuana possession, according to police.

Marijuana possession is a serious drug offense in Michigan. In most cases, a first-time offender will face misdemeanor charges, and if convicted be subject to a maximum of one year in jail and fines of up to $2,000. However, there are many factors which may impact the criminal penalties an individual faces when charged with marijuana possession. For example, if it is determined that you are growing marijuana or are in possession of plants, you may face felony charges which will result in harsher penalties. Criminal penalties may also be enhanced if an individual is found to be in possession of marijuana in close proximity to a park, school, or church. Michigan Penal Code 333.7401 dictates that those convicted of cultivating marijuana will face fines of as much as $20,000 along with up to four years in prison.

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