Man pleads guilty to conspiracy to traffic meth

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A man who was part of a scheme to bring methamphetamine from the state of Texas for distribution in the state of Illinois, pleaded guilty before a federal judge Thursday morning in Texarkana.

Antonio Alexander Lee, 24, aka David Mays, appeared with Texarkana attorney Craig Henry for a change of plea hearing Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas. Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court records, Lee, James L. Morgan “and others” were involved in a conspiracy to move drugs from Texas to Illinois for distribution beginning sometime in the summer of 2017 and ending Sept. 28, 2017. A factual basis filed Thursday in the case states that Alexander and Morgan, against whom charges remain pending, possessed a substance weighing 79.36 grams which contained at least five grams or more of methamphetamine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Hurst said that Lee’s plea agreement includes notice of the government’s intent to increase the punishment he faces for possessing a firearm at the time of the offense and includes notice of the possibility of a reduction for acceptance of responsibility.

Craven told Lee the exact punishment he faces won’t be known until after federal authorities have completed a pre-sentence report which will include a recommendation for punishment under federal sentencing guidelines.

Craven said the offense to which Lee pleaded guilty is punishable by five to 40 years in federal prison, a fine up to $5 million or both. Supervised release of at least four years is required, Craven said.

If Lee has a prior felony drug conviction he could face a greater range of punishment, Craven said. The possbile punishment increases to 10 years to life in federal prison, a fine up to $10 million, or both.

Lee’s case will be scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III in approximately three to four months. Lee remains in federal custody.

Jordan remains in federal custody also. His case is scheduled for a jury trial before Schroeder in July.

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