A 33-year-old Kentucky man was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in prison for a May crime spree in Charlevoix.
Michael Joseph Ortiz of Lexington, Kentucky, was sentenced to serve 130 months to 30 years on drug charges with the sentences to be served concurrently and 24 months on a weapons charge to be served consecutively to the drug charges.
According to the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office, a confidential informant made contact with them and said that Ortiz brought large quantities of drugs from Kentucky to sell in Charlevoix County.
After surveilling Ortiz, who according to law enforcement drove a car with a stolen license plate, police attempted to make a traffic stop near Family Fare in Charlevoix. Ortiz refused to stop and and drove at a high rate in downtown Charlevoix, attempting to elude officers until he crashed into a tree at the intersection of Park and State Streets.
In the vehicle, police located quantities of methamphetmine, fentanyl, Adderall, oxycodone hydrochloride as well as a handgun. At sentencing, Ortiz admitted that he was under the influence of drugs at the time.
“This was a dangerous situation where members of the public were put at risk by this defendant’s actions,” Charlevoix County Prosecuting Attorney Allen Telgenhof said in a statement. “This is another example of cases where drugs are not a victimless crime.”
Ortiz pleaded guilty in October to possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver and being in possession of a firearm during the course of a felony.
Ortiz was previously convicted of seven prior felonies and 13 misdemeanors. He received seven prior jail sentences and three prior prison sentences.
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