News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2007

Two Plead Guilty In Plan To Manufacture Methamphetamine

FEB 15 -- Gregory M. Thompson, of Warwick, and Roger A. Murray, of Coventry, have pleaded guilty in a scheme to manufacture methamphetamine in a shed on Murray’s property. In October, federal agents and state police seized chemicals and materials used to manufacture methamphetamine from the shed and from Thompson’s home.

June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente announced the guilty pleas, which Thompson and Murray entered during separate hearings before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi. Thompson pleaded guilty on February 13, and Murray today.

At the plea hearings, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Rogers said that the government could prove that, on October 3, state police detectives on the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) and agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration Clandestine Laboratory Team executed a search warrant at Murray’s home on Shady Valley Road in Coventry. From the house, they seized 16 pint bottles of iodine, and from a shed on the property, they seized 120 capsules of ephedrine, Drano, an acidity tester, and other materials used to make methamphetamine, which is also called meth.

Murray admitted that he was allowing Thompson to use the shed to make meth and that he had agreed to allow the Iodine to be delivered to his house. Murray also said that Thompson planned to send extracted ephedrine to a person in California. Later that day, Thompson arrived at Murray’s home and took possession of the Iodine. Agents later found a package of phosphorous under the bed of Thompson’ home in Warwick. Phosphorous is also used in the manufacture of meth.

Murray, 32, pleaded guilty to three charges: conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, possessing equipment, chemicals, and materials used to manufacture methamphetamine, and possessing iodine, intending to use it to manufacture methamphetamine. Thompson, 49, pleaded guilty to those charges, and an additional charge of possessing ephedrine, intending to use it to manufacture methamphetamine. The net weight of the 120 ephedrine capsules seized was 73.2 grams.

Both men are detained pending sentencing, which Judge Lisi scheduled for May 18 for Thompson, and May 25 for Murray. The maximum penalties for the offenses are: conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possessing a chemical, intending to use it to manufacture methamphetamine – 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine; possessing equipment and materials used to manufacture methamphetamine – 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.