KNOXVILLE, TN—On Jan. 28, 2015, Christopher Ryan Jenkins, 28, of Rockwood, Tenn., was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison, by the Honorable Pamela Reeves, U.S. District Judge, for conspiracy to manufacture 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (meth) and possession of precursors used to manufacture meth. Upon his release from prison, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.

Jenkins was charged along with 17 others in a July 2014 indictment. He pleaded guilty to the offenses described above in September 2014. According to the plea agreement on file with U.S. District Court, between 2012 and 2014 Jenkins conspired with at least one other person to manufacture at least 50 grams of meth in various locations in east Tennessee. According to pharmacy records and by his own admission, he purchased, or had others purchase for him, pseudoephedrine that he used to manufacture meth.

“These cases demonstrate the tremendous impact that collaborative investigations among law enforcement agencies can help to combat methamphetamine production and distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Killian. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute these types of cases to help rid communities of this harmful drug and the environmental impact caused by its production.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Edward W. Reinhold said, “Manufacturing methamphetamine is a dangerous business and the community will not stand by while the drug trade goes on unchecked. The FBI commends the collaboration among the local law enforcement agencies, who devoted significant resources during this investigation.”

“We are gratified by the outcome in this joint investigation,” said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director Mark Gwyn. “We will continue to work in partnership to identify and hold accountable those who cook meth. This is a tough fight, but we’re committed to the effort to eradicate this deadly drug.”

Sheriff Jack Stockton said, “The Roane County Sheriff’s Office hopes that this stiff sentence for a very young offender sends a message to all methamphetamine cooks that their lawlessness will not be tolerated and their crimes will be severely punished. I thank the United States Attorney’s Office for its continued partnership in addressing the methamphetamine problem in the East District of Tennessee.”

This case was investigated by the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Harriman Police Department, Rockwood Police Department, Kingston Police Department, TBI and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooklyn Sawyers represented the United States.