Pittsburg, Kan., Man Gets 13+ Years For Distributing Methamphetamine

WICHITA, KAN. - A man from Pittsburg, Kan., has been sentenced to 157 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Mac William Watkins, 36, Pittsburg, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, Watkins admitted that in May 2012 he conspired with co-defendants Tammy Baetke and Derek Edwards to distribute methamphetamine in Pittsburg.

On May 12, 2012, at 803 North Rouse in Pittsburg Watkins provided 35 grams of methamphetamine to Edwards. Edwards took the drugs on consignment and agreed to pay Watkins back from the proceeds of the sales. On May 14, he paid Watkins $450 on a prior $1,200 drug debt and Edwards was found to be in possession of 5 grams of methamphetamine. From April 2012 to May 15, 2012, Watkins provided four ounces of methamphetamine for Edwards to distribute.

On May 18, 2012, Watkins and co-defendant Tammy Baetke were stopped when returning from a trip to Oklahoma City where they had bought methamphetamine. They had more than 149 grams of methamphetamine in their possession.

Edwards was sentenced to 105 months in federal prison. Baetke was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.

Grissom commended the Pittsburg Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Southeast Kansas Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Crawford County Sheriff's Department, Assistant Kansas Attorney General Steven Wilhoft and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.