Mountain City Residents Sentenced For Conspiring To Manufacture Methamphetamine

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Four individuals involved in a methamphetamine conspiracy were sentenced on Mar. 12, 2014, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge. Janet L. Bunting, 45, of Mountain City, Tenn., was sentenced to serve 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Heather M. Eller, 32, of Mountain City, Tenn., was sentenced to serve 92 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Debbie L. Snyder, 36, of Mountain City, Tenn., was sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Rachel M. Williams, 39, of Mountain City, Tenn., was sentenced to serve 62 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

These individuals, along with 16 others were indicted in May 2013 for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine and possessing equipment, chemicals, materials, and products to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Seven others named in the indictment were also charged with distributing methamphetamine. All of those charged in this case have been adjudicated guilty and will be sentenced later this year.

The charges stemmed from a lengthy investigation spanning from August 2006 to May 2013 involving a conspiracy by these individuals to obtain pseudoephedrine and other products needed to manufacture methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Tennessee, Western District of North Carolina, and the Western District of Virginia. The pseudoephedrine and other products were then used to manufacture methamphetamine utilizing the “shake and bake” method. The methamphetamine produced was used and distributed in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

“Methamphetamine has had a devastating effect on communities in eastern Tennessee. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of so many law enforcement agencies, we have recently seen a reduction in the number of methamphetamine laboratories across the district. Our office is dedicated to combat methamphetamine related crimes and will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenses,” stated U.S. Attorney William C. Killian.

This investigation was a result of the collaborative efforts of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, 1st Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Suzanne Kerney-Quillen and Caryn Hebets represent the United States.