Police: Informant helped secure prison time for Gogebic Co. drug dealer

GOGEBIC COUNTY, Mich. (WJMN) — A Wisconsin man will serve a minimum of nearly five years in prison after pleading guilty to selling drugs in Gogebic County.

The Ironwood Public Safety Department said in a recent release that 36-year-old Justin James O’Dell of Eagle River, WI, was sentenced to serve 4.5-20 years in prison for drug-related crimes.

IPSD said law enforcement first began investigating O’Dell’s activities near the end of 2023, when the Gogebic Iron Area Narcotics Team suspected him of distributing methamphetamine around Gogebic County.

Police say the investigation was furthered with the help of a confidential informant who assisted the GIANT team to purchase drugs on several occasions from O’Dell.

A search warrant authorized a GPS tracking unit be used to locate O’Dell, who was then observed travelling from Gogebic County to Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.

When he returned to Gogebic County police arrested O’Dell, who was at the time in possession of 25 grams of meth and supplies often used to sell and distribute the drug.

Anyone seeking help for substance abuse issues can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit their website . Gogebic County has also made available this list of local resources .

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