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Wilber
‘A search of the vehicle revealed two backpacks containing a large amount of drugs, including approximately 4 ounce of methamphetamine, over 7 grams of cocaine, fentanyl, buprenorphine, suspected psilocybin mushrooms, an assortment of prescription pills, a digital scale, packing material and two cell phones. The vehicle was a virtual drug store.’
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON — A jury found a 35-year-old Muskegon man guilty of six felony counts in a drug dealing case Friday, June 20, in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court.
Dakota Raymond Wilber, 35, was found guilty as charged of: possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine, two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver less than 50 grams of a mixture containing cocaine, possession of less than 25 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and possession of buprenorphine.
The trial began Wednesday, June 18, and the jury rendered its verdict after deliberating for an hour Friday. June 20, said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand.
Wilber’s co-conspirator Levi Alan Richard testified as a witness for Wilber, claiming that Wilber “was nothing more than an unsuspecting passenger,” said Prosecutor Hand. “Richard said he and Wilber, who lives in Muskegon, came to Ludington the evening of May 29, 2024. Richard said he had asked Wilber to come along for a ride, never telling Wilber ‘his business.’ Richard had agreed to sell to an undercover SSCENT (State, Sheriffs’ Chiefs’ Enforcement of Narcotics Team) officer 1 ounce of methamphetamine and a ¼ ounce of cocaine.
“Surveillance officers watched the vehicle driven by Richard arrive at Sutton’s Landing, where it stayed a short amount of time. Richard then drove to the Shell gas station at Pere Marquette Highway and US 10. Next, they went to the Walmart parking lot and stayed for 54 minutes, and neither man went into the store. Officers saw two people enter and exit the parked vehicle. When the vehicle left Walmart on the way to meet the undercover officer, Mason County sheriff’s deputies tried to stop the car. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. The chase occurred at about 11 p.m. until the car became disabled, after which Wilber and Richard ran. Both subjects were eventually arrested.
“A search of the vehicle revealed two backpacks containing a large amount of drugs, including approximately 4 ounce of methamphetamine, over 7 grams of cocaine, fentanyl, buprenorphine, suspected psilocybin mushrooms, an assortment of prescription pills, a digital scale, packing material and two cell phones. The vehicle was a virtual drug store.”
Prosecutor Hand expressed appreciation to all of the officers who participated in the investigation. “The Mason County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan State Police and the Ludington Police Department all played important roles in the investigation and successful prosecution of this case. As I promised during my campaign, drug dealers will not be tolerated in Mason County. When found, they will be prosecuted and punished.”
Wilber has served previous prison terms for methamphetamine possession, operating a meth lab and uttering and publishing convictions in Kent and Genesee counties, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records.
Richard was sentenced to a minimum of 13 ½ years in prison for 11 felony convictions, March 11. Wilber, who is lodged in the Mason County Jail, will be sentenced later this summer.
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