Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Township man gets prison on drug charges

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Bessemer — An Ironwood Township man who used the postal service to receive drugs was sentenced to eight years in prison in Gogebic County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Scott David Salmi, 45, was sentenced to between eight and 30 years for delivery of methamphetamine and between three and 10 years for possession of meth. The two sentences will be served concurrently, as stipulated in Salmi’s plea agreement in the case.

“We’re not just talking about small amounts of methamphetamine, we’re talking about 34-35 grams per mail delivery to you that was then disseminated and used by you in this community. That offense is very serious,” said Judge Michael Pope.

Pope recognized various positive aspects of Salmi’s history and acknowledged addiction issues were present, but called the Salmi’s offenses “very egregious” due its impact on the community.

“(Meth) is one of the most egregious drugs this court has come across,” he said, referencing its severe addiction qualities.

Salmi’s charges stem from a pair of cases.

He was arrested in March 2018 after authorities found a suspicious package containing drugs addressed to the Bessemer restaurant Salmi worked at. Officers seized approximately two ounces of crystal meth.

He was charged a second time in August after being released on bond. In that case, Salmi was arrested following a short foot pursuit once officers receiving information regarding his location after his bond was revoked. At the time of his arrest, he was found to have controlled substances on him, a Gogebic Iron Area Narcotics Team spokesman said.

Prosecutor Nick Jacobs called Salmi a “one-man drug store Tuesday,” and said the case was illuminating on how easy it was for mail-order drugs to infiltrate a community.

Salmi apologized for his actions and for what he put his family through. He said he didn’t know why he relapsed after years of sobriety and promised to make the most of his opportunities while serving his sentence and in the future.

“I’m going to come out a better person than I am going in,” Salmi told the court.

Salmi received credit for 258 days served in jail prior to sentencing on the delivery sentence and 243 days credit on the possession sentence.

Charges of delivery of meth, tampering with evidence, possession of a controlled substance near a school or library, and resisting and obstructing an officer were dismissed at sentencing as part of the plea agreement.

The case was primarily investigated by the Gogebic Iron Area Narcotics Team.

 
 
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