Two Leelanau County people have been arrested after the United States Postal Inspection Service identified illegal substances being mailed through the United State Postal Service to a house in Leelanau County, according to the Traverse Narcotics Team.
In June 2022, detectives from TNT and the USPIS identified the illegal substances being mailed and got a search warrant to intercept a package. When they opened it, about seven ounces of crystal methamphetamine was in the package, TNT says.
One June 16, TNT detectives conducted a search warrant at the suspect’s house in Cedar and found additional drugs including methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, prescription pills, cocaine and fentanyl. The suspect was not home at the time of the search, and had fled to Illinois to avoid arrest, according to TNT.
On August 5, Robert Sonderman, 46, was extradited back to Leelanau County and arraigned. His girlfriend, Hope Jackson, 43, has also been charged with her involvement in the operation.
Sonderman was arraigned on August 6 and given a $100,000 cash bond on the following charges:
- Possession with the intent to deliver crystal methamphetamine, a 20-year felony
- Possession of methamphetamine, a 10 year felony
- Conducting criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony
- Maintaining a drug house, a 2-year misdemeanor
Jackson was arraigned on August 23 and given a personal recognizance bond on the following charges:
- Possession of methamphetamine
- Possession of cocaine, a 4-year felony
- Possession of Fentanyl, a 4-year felony
- Maintaining a drug house
TNT detectives also say there were able to identify two additional suspects who were involved with getting the crystal methamphetamine from out of state. They have yet to be arraigned on their charges.
TNT estimates that around seven pounds of methamphetamine had been delivered to these suspects in Leelanau County over the last year. If the methamphetamine was sold by the gram, then the total current street value for northern Michigan for this amount would be $254,011.52, according to TNT.
Robert Sonderman
Hope Jackson
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