Butch Chad Patterson, 37, of Esom Hill pleaded guilty to the possession and sale of at least 50 grams of methamphetamines in U.S. District Court in Rome.
According to court filings, Patterson sold several ounces of meth through a go-between to an informant working with federal and Alabama authorities in early 2009.
The case began in Alabama when the unnamed informant alerted the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office about information concerning the sale of meth and firearms in the area, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Jones said in Tuesday’s hearing.
Over a two-month period, Sheriff’s investigators and later agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made several purchases of the drug from Patterson at a Brewster Road address.
On March 23, 2009 the largest single purchase, 2.5 ounces of “Ice” methamphetamine, was facilitated by Patterson’s co-defendant 36-year-old Scotty Milligan, also of Esom Hill.
Milligan previously pleaded guilty to meth distribution charges and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Federal agents then obtained a search warrant and on March 26 raided the residence confiscating three-quarters of an ounce of “Ice” and 19 firearms, according to court filings.
Neither Patterson nor Milligan were charged with the illegal possession of a firearm and prosecutors said there was no evidence to show either man had involvement with illegal firearms sales.
Patterson is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday May 13, at 10 a.m.
Milligan