Two Men Plead Guilty To Drug Conspiracy After Manufacturing Methamphetamine In Lancaster

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE:  (716) 843-5817
FAX #:                 (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that John Ruth, 40, and Michael Jachimiak, 37, both of Lancaster, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.  The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that in the early morning hours of June 19, 2014, officers from the Lancaster Police Department conducted a trash pull at 97 Field Street in Lancaster and seized approximately 736 spent pseudophedrine blister packs, and receipts for the purchase of precursor materials used to manufacture methamphetamine. Later that day, officers and Drug Enforcement Administration special agents executed a NYS search warrant at the residence. Officers seized 3-hydrocholoric acid gas generators, hypodermic needles containing suspected liquid methamphetamine, white, crystalline substance weighing approximately 43.27 grams, Mason jars containing “one-pot” methamphetamine laboratory residue, 1 Coleman fuel bottle, 1 can of Zippo acid, 2 bottles of ammonium nitrate, and other precursors used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Ruth manufactured methamphetamine, with the assistance of Jachimiak, numerous times at the residence. At various times, Ruth arranged for other individuals to purchase pseudophedrine tablets and other materials needed to manufacture methamphetamine.  Ruth used some of the methamphetamine and sold some of it. The substances seized  were sent to the DEA Northeast Regional Laboratory for analysis, which confirmed that the substances contained methamphetamine residue.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division and the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gerald Gill.

Ruth will be sentenced on August 24, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., Jachimiak on August 20, 2105 at 12:30 p.m., both before Judge Arcara.