Mount Morris Meth Case Ends with Guilty Plea

NYLON – A Mount Morris man pled guilty to federal charges for his involvement in making and distributing meth.

According to a press release from acting U.S. Attorney James Kennedy, Jr., Zackery Billings, 27, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Manufacture, Possess with Intent to Distribute, and Distribute, a Mixture and Substance Containing Methamphetamine.

The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who is handling the case, said that between January of 2011 and October 25, 2011, the defendant conspired to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. In order to avoid restrictions on the purchase of pseudoephedrine, an important chemical in the methamphetamine manufacturing process, Billings engaged in the practice of ‘smurfing’ (buying small quantities) at local pharmacies.

U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Vilardo is presiding over the case.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Lieutenant Kevin Reyes and Major David Krause; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Region; the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb; the Wellsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O’Grady; U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Steven Oldman; and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, under the direction of Captain John Burke.

Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.