By Journal Staff

MENOMINEE — David Aric Speak, 40, of Minneapolis, was sentenced to six to 20 years in prison for his role in an out-of-state drug trafficking operation, announced Menominee County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey T. Rogg.

The sentence was handed down on Dec. 22 by the 41st Circuit Court Judge Mary B. Barglind. Speak pleaded guilty on Oct. 21 to delivery of methamphetamine and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine.

According to Rogg, the investigation was initiated when Detective Sgt. Greg Peterson of the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of a confidential informant, purchased 2 ounces of methamphetamine from Speak for $2,000 at the Candlelite Motel parking lot in April. After the purchase, additional drug team units “boxed in” the vehicle driven by Speak and his colleagues.

An additional 298.4 grams of methamphetamine, packaged in individual baggies for retail sale, were later seized from inside the vehicle.

Peterson led a team of detectives from the Menominee County/City Wide Drug Team and two other local drug teams.

Barglind ordered Speak to serve a minimum of six years in the state prison before he is eligible for parole.

“In doing so, the court granted my request to impose an extended term of incarceration upon Speak as a result of the large quantity of methamphetamine — 360 grams — which suggests that Mr. Speak and his compatriots are major interstate drug dealers and thus a danger to our community,” Rogg said in a news release. “Mr. Speak made a great effort to travel from Minnesota to harm the citizens of Menominee County.

“The judge’s sentence also sends a strong message to the public that peddling this pernicious poison will not be tolerated. I hope other drug dealers will receive this message of deterrence, and take note that I am ready to mete our justice when their turn comes around.”