Jury finds man guilty of delivery of fentanyl causing death

March 24, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

Gale

LUDINGTON — A jury found a 32-year-old Oceana County man guilty of delivery of a controlled substance causing death in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, March 24.

Travis Michael Gale could face up to life in prison for the conviction. The jury also found him guilty of delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine and delivery/manufacture of cocaine, heroin or another substance. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning with a verdict.

Gale delivered fentanyl to Emmanuel Rodriguez of Oceana County April 22, 2023. Rodriguez, who was in his early 40s, died.

“Justice was served today,” said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand. “I am hopeful that this verdict will act as a deterrent to those who choose to sell drugs in our community. A dealer can never know if his product will result in the death of someone who ingests their product for the first time or the 100^th time. To combat drug addiction and drug use in our community, it is necessary that law enforcement hold those who peddle this poison accountable. When the facts of the case warrant charging this offense, I will continue to do so. Emmanuel Rodriguez was unable to speak for himself. I commend law enforcement who did a thorough investigation that allowed me to be his voice and hold his assailant accountable.”

Gale, who faces charges in two other Mason County criminal cases, rejected a plea offer, Jan. 28, of serving a minimum of just over 19 years in prison.

‎“The delivery occurred near Ruby Creek, and the decedent was found in his residence on Washington Road in Oceana County,” Hand said.

About a week later, Gale allegedly stole a garden fence April 29, 2023 at the Ludington-area Lowe’s home improvement store, said Hand.

Just months after Rodriguez’s death, Gale allegedly furnished fentanyl to another jail inmate who nearly died after taking the drug Nov. 15, 2023. The male victim, who is in his mid 30s, has fully recovered, said Prosecutor Hand.

“…Mason County corrections deputies were notified of a medical emergency in a cell within the Mason County Jail,” previously stated Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. “Corrections deputies immediately began life saving measures on the inmate, which included CPR and the administration of NARCAN.”

Gale’s other pending charges include: furnishing contraband to prisoners; prisoner in possession of contraband; possession of cocaine/heroin; fourth-offense habitual offender; two counts of breaking and entering a building with intent; and larceny in a building. “If he doesn’t wish to plead to those (cases), they will be set for trial,” said Hand.

Gale was sentenced to three to 20 years in prison in Kent County, Sept. 18, 2024 for a conviction of conducting criminal enterprises and fourth-offense habitual offender, according to Kent County court records.

A Mears resident at the time, Gale was sentenced in Oceana County’s 27th (now 51st) Circuit Court, May 4, 2020 to 18 months to eight years in prison for convictions of heroin possession and third-offense habitual offender. He was sentenced to a prison term of one year and three months to 20 years, Oct. 7, 2013, for a conviction of first-degree home invasion, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records.

Jury selection occurred last Wednesday, and the jury heard testimony Thursday and Friday, followed by closing arguments and instructions Monday, said Hand.

He is scheduled for sentencing May 13 at 9 a.m. He is scheduled for final pretrial conferences in his pending cases April 29 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.

_______________________

Please Support Local News

Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.

Payment can be made monthly via credit card, bank account, PayPal or Venmo through recurring email invoicing. These payments can be set up for autopay each month.

To sign up, email editor@mediagroup31.com. In the subject line write: Subscription. Please supply your name, email address, mailing address, and phone number (indicate cell phone). We will not share your information with any outside sources. For more than one email address in a household, the cost is $15 per month per email address.

Alternative methods:

We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).

Payment must be made in advance prior to subscription activation.

We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.

_____

This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2025, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.