UPDATE: Last of 3 arrested in Gogebic County drug bust sentenced

GOGEBIC COUNTY, Mich. (WLUC) -UPDATE: The last of 3 people arrested in Gogebic County in July for charges related to delivery of methamphetamine has been sentenced.

Michael Johnson, of Ramsay, was sentenced in Gogebic County Circuit Court Friday to a minimum of 162 days in jail and a maximum of 30 years.

Johnson was originally charged with 10 felonies, after he was arrested in July as part of an undercover investigation lasting several weeks.

7 of those were dismissed as part of his plea deal. He plead guilty and was sentenced to 3: 1 count of maintaining a drug house, 1 count of delivery/manufacturing of methamphetamine, and 1 count of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine.

The other 2 people arrested as part of the same investigation, Lynn Chapman and Anthony Negri, were sentenced Jan. 17 and Jan. 5 respectively.

Last published: Jan 17, 2023 3:14:06 PM

Two of three people arrested in Gogebic County in July for charges related to delivery of methamphetamine have been sentenced to jail.

Lynn Chapman, 41, of Ramsay was sentenced Tuesday in Gogebic County Circuit Court for her involvement with the delivery of methamphetamine which occurred on July 11. Chapman was sentenced by Judge Michael Pope to serve a minimum prison term of 5 years and a maximum of 30 years.

Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs said the maximum term included an Habitual Offender 2nd designation, which increased the maximum by one and a half times. Chapman was given credit for 187 days served in the county jail while awaiting the disposition of her case.

Chapman was originally charged with two felony counts of delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine. In a November plea deal, she pled guilty to one count and the second was dismissed.

The case was investigated by the Gogebic-Iron Area Narcotics Team (G.I.A.N.T.) as part of an undercover investigation lasting several weeks. Two other individuals were arrested on similar charges.

Anthony Negri of Bessemer was sentenced on Jan. 5 to serve a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years for delivery of methamphetamine. Negri was charged with three felonies — delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine, conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine — as well as maintaining a drug house and fourth degree child abuse.

Negri pled guilty to delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house on Nov. 29 in a plea agreement. His other charges were dismissed.

The third person arrested in the July bust, Michael Johnson, will be sentenced for his involvement on Jan. 27. He was charged with 10 felonies:

Three counts of delivery of methamphetamine, 20-year felonies
Two counts of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, 20-year felonies
Delivery of heroin, 20-year felony
Delivery of heroin within 1,000 feet from a park, 2-year felony
Maintaining a drug house, 2-year high court misdemeanor
Felon in possession of a firearm, 5-year felony
Possession of a firearm while committing a felony, 2-year felony

Johnson entered a plea agreement on Dec. 6, in which he pled guilty to maintaining a drug house and the 2 counts of delivery/manufacture of meth. His other charges were dismissed.

TV6 will update this story after Johnson is sentenced.

Last published: Jul 18, 2022 3:42:43 PM

On July 15, 2022, the Gogebic-Iron Area Narcotics Team (GIANT) executed two search warrants in Gogebic County. Throughout the investigation, GIANT obtained information about a group of people that were involved in distributing methamphetamine and heroin. GIANT was able to purchase both of those substances on several occasions from some of the individuals.

The first search warrant that officers executed was on Alice St., in Bessemer Township, State of Michigan. As a result of that search warrant 27-year-old, Michael S. Johnson and 40-year-old Lynn E. Chapman were arrested. In the room where those two individuals were located an officer found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, U.S. currency and a .40 caliber pistol.

The second search warrant was executed on Palms Rd, in the City of Bessemer, State of Michigan. As a result of that search warrant, 32-year-old Anthony J. Negi was arrested. In the room where Negri was located an officer seized methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and U.S. currency. On Friday, July 15, 2022, Gogebic County District Attorney Nicholas Jacobs authorized several felony charges for the three individuals.

Michael S. Johnson is currently charged with the following.

Three counts of delivery of methamphetamine, 20-year felonies
Two counts of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, 20-year felonies
Delivery of heroin, 20-year felony
Delivery of heroin within 1,000 feet from a park, 2-year felony
Maintaining a drug house, 2-year high court misdemeanor
Felon in possession of a firearm, 5-year felony
Possession of a firearm while committing a felony, 2-year felony

Michael S. Johnson is lodged at the Gogebic County Jail with a bond of $500,000. The Michigan Department of Corrections has also placed a hold on Johnson because he is also on parole from a prior GIANT investigation where he was convicted for distributing controlled substances in 2016.

Lynn E. Chapman is currently charged with the following charges.

Delivery of methamphetamine, 20-year felony
Conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, 20-year felony

Lynn E. Chapman is lodged at the Gogebic County Jail with a bond of $200,000 and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections has a hold on her. Chapman also has warrants for her in Vilas County Wisconsin for unrelated charges.

Anthony J. Negri is currently charged with the following charges.

Delivery of methamphetamine, 20-year Felony
Conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, 20-year Felony
Possession with Intent to deliver methamphetamine, 20-year felony
Maintaining a drug house, 2-year high court
Misdemeanor child abuse 4th degree, 1-year misdemeanor - for intentionally placing his child in unreasonable risk of harm or physical injury

Anthony J. Negri is lodged at the Gogebic County Jail with a bond of $100,000 subject to 10%.

The GIANT team is continuing the investigation and not only is there a chance that the above individuals receiving additional charges, but additional arrests of others involved are expected.

The GIANT team would also like thank the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Corrections for assistance in executing the search warrants. GIANT would like to remind the citizens of the Gogebic and Iron County area to take the time to report suspicious activities. GIANT says in doing such, they (the Citizen) can take satisfaction in helping to reduce drug distribution and abuse in our community.

GIANT has an answering machine, designed to take messages on such information and callers can remain anonymous.

The toll-free number for GIANT is 1-855-644-4219 or email GIANT at: giantdrugteam@gmail.com If it is an emergency call 911 because these accounts are only checked by members of GIANT.