Narcotics and Money Laundering Arrests in Manistique
MANISTIQUE — On, Friday March 15th, 2019, Manistique Public Safety Officers with the assistance of the Public Safety K-9 Unit, 93rd District Court Probation Department, and Schoolcraft County Sheriffs Department continued their investigation into the alleged trafficking of methamphetamine with additional felony arrests and Narcotics seizure in Manistique and Schoolcraft County.
Upon continuing their investigation into the narcotics case initiated in February 2019, officers seized 85 grams of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $13,000.00 from a residence in Schoolcraft County. Pursuant to this seizure officers obtained additional felony arrest warrants for 43-year-old Ryan Richard St. John of Manistique who remains in custody stemming from a previous drug related arrest on February 26, 2019.
During an arraignment in 93rd District Court, Friday, March 15th, Ryan St. John was charged with five felonies involving: Delivery, manufacturing, Obstruction of Justice, Money Laundering, as well as, conspiracy to commit controlled Substance and Money Laundering.
Preliminary Hearing on these charges are set for April 3rd, 2019 at 1 p.m.
St. John was arraigned on the following charges:
Count 1: Controlled Substance – Delivery/Manufacture – Methamphetamine; Felony punishable by 20 years and/or $25,000
Count 2: Conspiracy to Commit Controlled Substance – Delivery/Manufacture – Methamphetamine; Felony punishable by 20 years and/or $10,000
Count 3: Obstruction of Justice; Felony punishable by 5 years and/or $10,000
Count 4: Money Laundering – 3rd Degree; Felony punishable by 5 years and/or $10,000
Count 5: Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering – 3rd Degree; Felony punishable by 5 years and/or $10,000
St. John’s bond was set at $1 million cash/surety.
Officers also arrested and arraigned two additional suspects in conjunction with this case. They are 46-year-old Thomas James La Vance and 38-year-old Stephanie Ann Porter, who are both residents of Manistique, Michigan. They were both charged with numerous counts of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
LaVance’s bond was set at $50,000 cash/surety with 10 percent allowed.
La Vance’s next court date has not yet been set.
Stephanie Ann Porter, 38, was arrested and charged with one count of Money Laundering – 3rd Degree; Felony punishable by 5 years and/or $10,000.
Porter’s bond was set at $25,000 cash/surety with 10 percent allowed.
Porter’s next court date has not yet been set.
The investigation into crystal methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics in Manistique and Schoolcraft County continues and no further details will be released at this time.