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Anatomy of a meth ring

ESCANABA — Since the investigation began in July 2018, individuals involved in a drug distribution ring in the Escanaba area were convicted or are awaiting sentencing on drug-related crimes in Delta County Circuit Court. Local law enforcement agencies worked together in the investigation that amounted to the arrests of 18 individuals.

According to Escanaba Public Safety Capt. Darin Hunter, the investigation into the distribution ring within Delta County was multifaceted, but really spearheaded after the drug overdose of a 34-year-old woman on the 200 block of South 9th Street in Escanaba in July 2018.

He said once the department began to investigate her death, law enforcement officers began to see connections between other individuals involved in the drug scene in the area.

“Back in July of 2018 — middle of July of 2018 was when this really started spearheading into a full blown investigation of trying to link a lot of the players together,” he said.

Cellphone forensics, search warrants involving social media and informants were key components to linking the individuals together, according to Hunter.

The two main key players of the ring were Travis Halase of Green Bay and Daniel Heinz of Green Bay.

According to Hunter, Halase and Heinz were both bringing crystal meth into Delta County.

“It was crystal methamphetamine that was the primary drug of choice,” Hunter said.

Halase, 34, of Green Bay, Wis., pleaded no contest to one count of controlled substance – possession of meth/ecstasy. He was sentenced to two to 10 years in prison back in August 2019. His charge stems from an incident that occurred on July 19, 2018 in Escanaba.

Heinz, 30, of Green Bay, Wis., pleaded guilty to controlled substance – delivery/manufacture meth. He was sentenced to 18 months to 20 years in prison back in April 2019. His charge stems from an incident that occurred on July 16, 2018 in Wells Township.

“So what we were able to do is bring together all of our intelligence on the different individuals and put together a chart,” Hunter said.

He noted the chart the agencies built during their investigation looks quite similar to the one Escanaba Public Safety Department provided the Daily Press.

“We take the enforcement of drug issues that have started to plague our community to a high regard,” Hunter said. “To me, (the investigation into the ring) is a good example of how all the agencies can come together and work on a very … integral working investigation — where there are so many different pieces (that) if you don’t have a collaboration with all the agencies, you may miss a couple key components, a couple key players.”

He added the investigation shows local law enforcement agencies are working together to protect and clean up the streets of Delta County

Others found connected within the ring and what they were charged with include:

Jamie Williams, 32, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture – meth and one count of controlled substance – operating/maintaining laboratory involving meth. Williams was sentenced to 60 months to 240 months in prison back in December 2018. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in July 2018 in Escanaba.

Bradley Dubord, 38, of Bark River, pleaded guilty to the following counts: one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture – meth – habitual offender – third offense notice; one count of controlled substance – possession of meth/ecstasy – habitual offender – third offense notice; and two counts of controlled substance – possession/analogues – habitual offender – third offense notice. He was sentenced to six years to 40 years in prison, on the first of these counts. Dubord was sentenced to 30 months to 20 years in prison for the second count, and he was sentenced to 24 months to four years in prison for the last two counts. His sentences are being served concurrently. He was sentenced back in January 2019. Dubord’s charges stem from an incident that occurred in September 2018 in Bark River Township.

John Young, 36, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture – meth and one count of controlled substance – operating/maintaining laboratory involving meth. Young was sentenced to 44 months to 20 years in prison back in February 2019. His charges stem from an incident spanning September 2018 to October 2018 in Escanaba Township.

Kenneth Lauscher, 48, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture – meth. He was sentenced to 18 months to 20 years in prison back in October 2019. His charges stem from an incident that occurred in July 2018 in Escanaba.

Krystal White, 33, of Escanaba, faced charges in three cases. In the first case, White pleaded guilty to one count of attempted controlled substance – delivery/manufacture – meth. She was sentenced to one year and 11 months to five years in prison back in September 2019. The charge stems from an incident that occurred in July 2018 in Escanaba.

The second case, White pleaded guilty to the following counts: one count of controlled substance – maintaining a drug house – second or subsequent offense notice; and two counts of controlled substance – possession/analogues – second or subsequent offense notice. She was sentenced to 23 months to 48 months in prison back in February 2019. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in July 2018 in Delta County.

In the third case, White pleaded guilty to jails – prisoner possessing contraband – habitual offender – fourth offense notice. She was sentenced to two years and 10 months to 15 years in prison back in June 2019. The charge stems from February 2019 in Escanaba.

Gale Parisian-Eagle, 48, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to being a habitual offender – third offense notice to the three counts she pleaded no contest to, which were three counts of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture (schedules one, two and three except marijuana). She was sentenced to two years and four months to seven years in prison back in February 2019. The charges stem from March 2017 through April 2017 in Escanaba.

Kristy Olson, 25, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – possession of meth/ecstasy and one count of jails – prisoner possessing contraband. She was sentenced to 18 months to 10 years in prison, for the first of these counts and she was sentenced to 17 months to five years in prison for the second back in October 2019. Both sentences are being served concurrently. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in August 2018 in Escanaba.

Jamie Alan Eagle, 47, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – possession of meth/ecstasy. He was sentenced to 23 months to 120 months in prison back in February 2019. The charge stems from an incident that occurred in October 2018 in Escanaba.

Heather Olson, 34, of Gladstone, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – possession of meth. She was sentenced to 12 months in jail back in September 2019. The charge stems from an incident that occurred in December 2018 in Escanaba.

Cory Irving, 44, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – delivery/manufacture (schedules one, two and three except marijuana, meth, ecstasy, and cocaine), a seven-year felony. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 25. The charge stems from an incident that occurred in February 2019 in Escanaba.

Jack Lapinskas, 26, of Bark River, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – possession/analogues. He was sentenced to five months in jail back in October 2018. His charge stems from an incident that occurred in July 2018 in Escanaba.

John Tilot, 35, of Escanaba, was sentenced back in June 2019 in two cases involving controlled substances. In one case, Tilot pleaded no contest to one count of controlled substance – possession of meth/ecstasy – second or subsequent offense notice – double penalty. He was sentenced to 18 months to 20 years in prison. The charge stems from an incident that occurred in July 2018 in Escanaba.

In the second case, Tilot pleaded guilty to one count of jails – furnishing contraband to prisoners and one count of conspiracy to commit jails – furnishing contraband to prisoners. He was sentenced to three months to five years in prison. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in March 2019 in Escanaba.

Brett Bernier, 25, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to the following counts: one count of controlled substance – possession of meth/ecstasy; one count of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine – purchase/possess to make meth; and one count of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine – soliciting another to obtain. Bernier was sentenced to one year and five months to 10 years for the first and third of these counts, and one year and five months to five years for the second. He was sentenced back in May 2019. The charges stem from September 2018 through October 2018 in Escanaba.

Dennis Lapinskas, 28, of Bark River, pleaded guilty one count of controlled substance – possession of meth/ecstasy and one count of controlled substance – possession/analogues. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail for the first of these counts, and 11 months in jail for the second back in April 2019. Both sentences are being served concurrently. The charges stem form an incident that occurred in December 2018 in Escanaba.

Haily Hatting, 29, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance – possession/analogues. She was sentenced to nine months in jail back in May 2019. The charge stems from an incident that occurred in August 2018 in Escanaba.

Hatting is currently facing a charge of jails – prisoner possessing contraband, a five year felony. The charge stems from an incident that occurred in May 2019 in Escanaba. She has pleaded guilty to the charge and will be sentenced on Dec. 2.

Daniel Smith, 25, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted ephedrine/pseudoephedrine – purchase/possess to make meth. He was sentenced to nine months in jail back in April 2019. Smith’s charges stem from an incident that occurred in August 2018 in Escanaba.

According to Hunter, the primary drug of use within the ring was crystal meth, but there were other controlled substances within the group and some people also manufactured their own meth using the “shake and bake” method.

Hunter explained although some individuals were only connected to one other individual, through a chain of supply and demand it always lead back to Halase and Heinz.

Escanaba Public Safety Department, Delta County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team all worked together during the investigation into the ring.

When it comes to drug addiction in Delta County, there are programs that have been implemented to help people addicted.

Delta County’s Drug Court and Angel Program both address drug addiction.

Drug Court, which began in 2016, address the root of many crimes — drug addiction — so those with addictions can learn to live without drugs and not re-offend, thus stopping the chain of crimes that often accompanies drug abuse.

The Angel Program is comprised of community volunteers called “angels” who provide transportation to people with drug addictions who are willing to participate in an intensive recovery program without fear of being arrested.

Hunter said there is help available for those addicted in Delta County, but the 18 individuals within the ring weren’t just addicted but supplying.

“They weren’t only helping their addiction, but also supplying other people’s addictions, as well,” he said.

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