Port Huron Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 14, 2014 |
Brent McKinney, 28, of Port Huron, Michigan, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and related charges, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Paul Abbate, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Michael W. Reaves, Director of Public Safety, Port Huron Police Department.
A federal jury found McKinney guilty following a one-week trial in December 2013 before U.S. District Court Judge David M. Lawson.
The evidence presented at trial established that McKinney used a simple but highly dangerous one-pot method to manufacture methamphetamine. McKinney cooked methamphetamine in a Port Huron home in which a minor child resided, on a daily basis for at least six months. Because McKinney’s crime involved a minor child, he was subjected to a six-level enhancement in his federal sentencing guidelines, as well as a mandatory consecutive sentence for manufacturing methamphetamine in a home where a minor child resides.
Co-defendants Robert Folliard and Amber King each pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 48 months and 36 months, respectively for their roles in the drug conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney McQuade stated, “Not only did this defendant manufacture a dangerous drug, but he did so in a home where a child lived, exposing the child to toxic fumes and risk of explosion.”
Director Reaves stated, “The City of Port Huron Department of Public Safety appreciates the diligent work of the St. Clair County Drug Task Force (DTF) and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Michigan in their successful prosecution of Brett McKinney for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and related charges. Successful prosecutions of these types of drug cases that impact the quality of life in our community and directly affect our residents are extremely important. Others involved in such activity should definitely take note that local, county, state and federal resources will be collaboratively utilized to vigorously put an end to these types of drug operations.”
The case was investigated by the St. Clair County Drug Task Force and special agents of the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anjali Prasad.