Ludington man sent to prison for meth

Crawford with his attorney, Patrick Fragel.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 33-year-old Ludington man was sentenced concurrently to eight to 20 years in prison and three years and two months to 10 years in prison for two methamphetamine convictions in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Graham Joseph Crawford pleaded guilty, Sept. 22, to operating/maintaining a laboratory involving methamphetamine and meth possession. In exchange for his plea, a manufacturing meth charge and his habitual offender status were dismissed.

Crawford’s arrest stems from a search warrant in the 200 block of North Harrison Street executed by SSCENT (State, Sheriff’s, Chief’s Enforcement of Narcotics Team) and TNT (Traverse Narcotics Team) last February.

Crawford who testified in September that he was on probation at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty Tuesday to five counts of probation violation. His probation violation sentences run concurrently to the meth sentences.

Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola said Crawford was on probation for growing psychedelic mushrooms.

Crawford’s attorney, Patrick Fragel, said his client has five felony drug convictions.  “He has a problem with his impulse control,” Fragel said.

Crawford attempted to get clean urine and provide it to his employer for a drug test, who then contacted the probation department, Fragel said. “And then card house fell,” he said.

” I apologize to everybody, including my family,” Crawford said. “I came home to the stuff being manufactured in my house,” Crawford said. “The leadership was role was pinned on me — I was not the leader in this.”

Crawford said he he working a steady job, putting in 12 hours a day but then “fell right in line” with drug abuse. “And I fell apart. I’m sorry to everybody who it affected. That is not the person who I want to be anymore.”

“Each of these offenses is very serious,” said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski, adding that she hopes he’s learned something from the situation.

Crawford received 251 days jail credit for both meth convictions.

For the five probation violation convictions, Crawford was sentenced concurrently to two terms of three to seven years with 616 days jail credit; one term of 16 months to two years with 616 days jail credit; and two terms of seven to 20 years with 557 days jail credit.