FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
JANUARY 20, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TWO CONSPIRATORS SENTENCED FOR METHAMPHETAMINE DISTRIBUTION
BALTIMORE, Maryland - United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announces that U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Mary Atti, age 48, to 30 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release and Donald Lee Burchette, Sr., age 44, both of Street, Maryland, to 24 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release in connection with their guilty pleas on November 1 and October 27, 2005 respectively, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to the agreed statement of facts made part of their plea agreements, in June 2005 the Harford County Task Force received information from the Pennsylvania State Police that Burchette and co-defendant Terry Lee McMillion, age 44, of Brogue, Pennsylvania, had established methamphetamine laboratories at 402 Glasgow Road and 3400 Scarboro Road, Street, Harford County, and that McMillion had taught a female named AMary,@ later identified as Mary Atti, to produce methamphetamine. Task Force members include the DEA, Harford County Sheriffs Office and the Pennsylvania State Police.
On July 14, 2005, Task Force members searched the residence of McMillion and Carol Ann Lee, age 42, at 13035 Collinsville Road, Brogue, Pennsylvania and seized drug paraphernalia, including scales, tubing, matchbook striker plates, as well as ingredients used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, including iodine, muriatic acid, pseudoephedrine tablets and documentary evidence related to the conspiracy. Finding Lee inside the residence, Lee told agents that she believed that McMillion produced methamphetamine at the residence. Lee stated that on approximately two occasions, she purchased acetone for McMillion. Lee stated that on one occasion, she observed pills soaking in a liquid solution, which agents believed to be the pseudoephedrine extraction process necessary in the production of methamphetamine. In addition, Lee stated to officers that on a couple of occasions, she Acleaned@ the residence by pouring a red liquid down the toilet drain and a clear liquid down the kitchen sink, after McMillion had produced methamphetamine.
Also on July 14, 2005, Task Force members searched the Scarboro Road and Glasgow Road residences and seized numerous empty packets of pseudoephedrine, muriatic acid, empty bottles of Heet antifreeze, tubing, hydrogen peroxide, acetone, and large quantities of matchbox striker plates, all of which are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Finding Atti at her Scarboro Road residence, Atti told agents that McMillion used her residence to produce methamphetamine on approximately ten occasions. She also advised that each Acook@ of methamphetamine produced approximately ten grams of methamphetamine.
On July 14, 2005, McMillion was arrested after leaving 3400 Scarboro Road. McMillion stated to law enforcement agents that Burchette and "Mary@ (Atti) asked him to help them produce methamphetamine on numerous occasions. McMillion stated that Burchette had attempted to manufacture methamphetamine at his residence several times and that he (McMillion) had personally provided Burchette with some of the necessary precursor ingredients for these attempts. McMillion also stated that he had provided Atti with these same precursor ingredients. McMillion also stated that an active methamphetamine laboratory was possibly in the basement of 3400 Scarboro Road.
Sentencing for Carol Ann Lee was postponed and has been rescheduled for April 28, 2006. McMillion is scheduled to be sentenced on February 2, 2006. They face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a minimum sentence of 5 years, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore and Harrisburg Field Offices, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pennsylvania State Police for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who is prosecuting the case.