Man Pleads Guilty To Methamphetamine Related Charges
Loren Redhead purchases pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Loren Redhead, 40, formerly of Hastings, New York, pled guilty today to possessing pseudoephedrine, knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt of the New York Division, and New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II.
As part of his guilty plea, Redhead admitted that on approximately 58 occasions between October 2015 and April 2017, he purchased pseudoephedrine pills from different drug stores in and around Onondaga County, New York, with an aggregate weight of approximately 112 grams. On approximately 47 other occasions, Redhead tried to purchase pseudoephedrine but was unable to do so because his attempts were “blocked” by the pharmacy computers since he had exceeded store purchase limits. The defendant knew there were restrictions on the sale of pseudoephedrine, and to avoid scrutiny he often rotated the stores where he bought the pills. Redhead further admitted that he purchased the approximately 112 grams of pseudoephedrine knowing and intending it to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, and he personally manufactured methamphetamine himself with the pseudoephedrine he had purchased.
Redhead’s sentencing is scheduled for July 6, 2018, in Syracuse. The charge to which Loren Redhead pled guilty carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. Redhead was remanded to custody following his plea of guilty.
This case was investigated by the DEA, the New York State (NYSP), including the NYSP Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response (CCERT), and the New York State Intelligence (NYSIC), and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Eurenius.
