Lewis County Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Distribution Charges

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Charles W. Whitcher, age 41, of Port Leyden, New York, pled guilty today to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. 

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, and Lewis County District Attorney Leanne K. Moser.

As part of today’s guilty plea, Whitcher admitted that between August 2019 and September 2019, he distributed methamphetamine he had manufactured in his home using the “one pot” method, which uses pseudoephedrine and other ingredients to produce methamphetamine that Whitcher would then distribute in exchange for cash or more pseudoephedrine.

Also as part of his guilty plea, Whitcher admitted he was previously convicted in federal court, in 2003, for his involvement in a conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2021, at which time Whitcher faces up to 30 years in prison and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 6 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by the DEA, the Lewis County Drug Task Force, and the Lewis County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.