Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Bessemer — An Ironwood man pleaded guilty to drug charges in Gogebic County Circuit Court Monday.
Jeffrey Elton Schmiege, 48, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver meth, conspiracy to deliver meth and maintaining a drug house.
He also faces a habitual offender-second designation, which increases the potential maximum punishment for the three charges — the possession and conspiracy charges increase to a maximum of 30 years, according to Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs, and the drug house charge increases to three years.
Schmiege was arrested in July following the Gogebic-Iron Area Narcotic Team’s search of a Tamarack Street, Ironwood, house.
The search resulted in the discovery of “large quantities of crystal meth, prescription medication, marijuana, a firearm and ammunition,” according to a GIANT press release.
The search was the culmination of a three-month investigation, the release said, which extended into Ontonagon and Marquette counties, as well as Iron County, Wis.
Schmiege is the fifth defendant to plead guilty in the case. Jeffrey Thomas Gorecki, 45, was sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to deliver meth last month.
Three others — Jenifer Lynn Powell, of Ironwood; Ryan Frank Reinhard, of Ironwood, and Jonathon Phillip Thomas, of Mercer — have pleaded guilty to charges and are awaiting sentencing.
Powell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess meth with intent to deliver and a habitual offender-second offense designation Oct. 31 and is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 16.
Reinhard pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver meth on Oct. 25 and is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 12.
Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess meth with intent to deliver and maintaining a drug house on Oct. 23 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 19.
Schmiege is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 13.
Two others — David Wayne Opsahl and Jakob Wayne Applekamp — are also facing charges.
