Bay City Drug Dealer Sentenced for Operating Illegal Pill Factory

In Bay City, police uncovered a secret pill factory in January, run by 42-year-old Ryan Lee VanOchten, who was already on federal supervision for previous drug offenses. This discovery led to a significant sentencing: VanOchten faces over seven years in federal prison.

According to an article paywalled by MLive, during a raid, authorities found him at home with an alarming stash: 165 grams of meth, 128 fake Adderall pills (which tested positive for meth), ecstasy, cocaine, and fentanyl. Police also seized two stolen firearms, including a 9mm handgun and an assault rifle, along with a pill press indicating drug manufacturing.

VanOchten pleaded guilty to serious charges, including possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a potential 20-year sentence. His attorney sought leniency, highlighting VanOchten's troubled past with substance abuse starting in childhood and exacerbated by a knee injury and a messy divorce.

Despite arguments for mercy, Judge Thomas L. Ludington sentenced him to 51 months for the meth charge and 60 months for firearm possession, with a mandatory four months for a prior conviction. Once released, he’ll face three years of supervised release.