Ironwood man pleads to drug charges

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Bessemer — An Ironwood man pleaded guilty to felony drug charges in two cases in Gogebic County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Ira Asher Wilson-Johnson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver marijuana in one case and possession with intent to deliver cocaine in a second case at Tuesday’s hearing.

The marijuana charges carries a potential maximum sentence of four years in prison, while the cocaine charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The pleas came as part of an agreement that will have other charges in the cases dismissed at sentencing.

In the marijuana case, Wilson-Johnson was also charged with possessing marijuana on school property and maintaining a drug house. He was also charged with possession of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, possession with intent to deliver Alprazolam (a Schedule 4 controlled substance also known as Xanax), possession of Alprazolam within 1,000 feet of a school and felony firearm in the second case.

A habitual offender-second offense notice will also be dismissed at sentencing.

Wilson-Johnson was arrested in March when officers arrived at his Ironwood house to take him into custody for the charges in the case where he pleaded guilty to the marijuana charge, according to a Gogebic Iron Area Narcotics Team news release from March. When officers were at his house, they came to believe there was additional evidence and obtained a search warrant for the property.

The search allegedly resulted in the seizure of approximately 1/2 ounce of cocaine, approximately 1/2 pound of marijuana, prescription medication, three pistols, money and other items allegedly used to distribute controlled substances, according to the release.

The alleged drugs were estimated to have an approximate street value of $5,000, according to the release.

The results of the search led to the other case against Wilson-Johnson.

In court Tuesday, he said the cocaine came from Illinois.