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December 20, 2005O'Non is in federal prison awaiting drug chargesHe's already serving life for two murdersTRAVERSE CITY - A convicted double murderer sentenced to life in prison has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he ran a drug-trafficking ring in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties.Matthew O'Non, 22, formerly of Lake Leelanau, is serving life in prison for slaying Raul Ramirez and Manuel Longoria in May 2004 at his family's Bass Lake cottage over $30,000 worth of drugs. O'Non was convicted in March and had been held at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia before being moved into federal custody in November after he was indicted on drug charges in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. O'Non is charged with trafficking drugs, as are his brother, Christopher O'Non, 23, and Suttons Bay residents Thomas Stayer, 47, and his son, Joseph Stayer, 21. All four are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute large amounts of marijuana between 1997 and September 2005 as part of a drug ring. Matthew O'Non, who is accused of leading the local drug ring, pleaded not guilty to the federal charges this month. Leelanau County officials continue to investigate other leads in the murder, including whether O'Non's mother, Faye Robyn O'Non, offered misleading testimony or failed to cooperate with investigators. Faye Robyn O'Non was fired in May from her job as a Grand Traverse County sheriff's corrections officer after an internal review found she may have offered misleading testimony and information in her son's trial. Sheriff Scott Fewins said the internal investigation allegedly found seven possible code of conduct "discrepancies" against O'Non, but he wouldn't offer details. O'Non has appealed her firing. The case is scheduled for arbitration next year.
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