Tennessee, Virginia, And North Carolina Methamphetamine Cooks Sentenced To Federal Prison

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Three individuals were sentenced on June 4, 2014, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge, for their involvement in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. John G. Reece, II, 33, of Bristol, Va., was sentenced to serve 132 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Benjamin T. Morefield, 33, of Mountain City, Tenn., was sentenced to serve 119 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. John D. Reece, 35, of Boone, N.C., was sentenced to serve 118 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

A total of 20 individuals, including the three sentenced yesterday, 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 individuals named in the indictment were also charged with distributing methamphetamine. All others charged in this case have been adjudicated guilty and will be sentenced later this year. /p>

The charges stem 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 Western District of Virginia. The pseudoephedrine and other products were then used to manufacture methamphetamine utilizing the “shake and bake” method. The methamphetamine was used and distributed in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

According to the information contained in their plea agreements on file in U.S. District Court, all three of the individuals sentenced yesterday were methamphetamine cooks and had manufactured substantial quantities of methamphetamine. In their plea agreements, John G. Reece, II, and Morefield each admitted that they had conservatively manufactured at least 50 but less than 150 grams of actual methamphetamine. John D. Reece admitted in his plea agreement that he had conservatively manufactured 76.3 grams of actual methamphetamine.

“This case is an example of the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement investigations. These individuals conspired in three different jurisdictions to manufacture methamphetamine. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in all three jurisdictions to ensure that this case was successfully prosecuted to protect our communities from the dangers associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney William C. Killian.

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

This case was brought as a part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice=s drug supply reduction strategy that attacks major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.