White Pine man pleads to federal drug charge

GRAND RAPIDS — A plea agreement has been reached in the case of a White Pine man facing federal drug charges.

Jesse James Monville, 46, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in federal court in Grand Rapids Sept. 22 as part of an agreement that will have five other charges dismissed at his sentencing.

Monville was arrested during a traffic stop in Wakefield on Dec. 17, 2019, at the end of a Gogebic Iron Area Narcotics Team investigation that began in August of that year, which included several controlled buys where Monville sold meth and cocaine to a confidential informant.

A search of Monville’s vehicle after his arrest resulted in the seizure of additional meth, heroin and other substances, a GIANT spokesperson said at the time.

The seven charges he originally faced in Gogebic County Circuit Court were dismissed as a result of the federal indictment earlier this year.

As part of the plea agreement, two counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of meth, two counts of distribution of cocaine and a count of possession with intent to distribute heroin are expected to be dismissed at sentencing.

Monville faces up to life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000 and supervised release up to life as the potential maximum sentence for the charge, according to the plea agreement. The federal crime of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of meth carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and at least 5 years of supervised release, according to the plea agreement, unless the court finds Monville eligible for release under the relevant federal laws.

Monville is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 8.