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Jury convicts Odessa man of meth conspiracyJan 11, 2013 (Odessa American - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A federal jury convicted an Odessa man Wednesday of various methamphetamine trafficking offenses after a two-day trial in Midland. Paul David Copeland Jr., 47, was found guilty on multiple counts of possessing pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture meth, conspiracy to manufacture meth and attempting to manufacture meth, according to a news release. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine per count. Testimony and evidence at trial established that Copeland purchased over-the-counter pseudoephedrine 145 times from Odessa pharmacies between fall 2006 and August 2011, the release stated. Furthermore, testimony established Copeland recruited three others to buy the cold medicine on his behalf. The jury also heard evidence that in May 2007, the Ector County Sheriff's Office found an active meth lab in Copeland's travel trailer and pick-up in Odessa, the release stated. Copeland's sentencing date is March 14, 2013. He's been in federal custody since his arrest in April 2012. Besides the sheriff, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney John Klassen prosecuted the case. Follow Odessa American on twitter @OdessaAmerican, like us on Facebook at Odessa American or call 432-333-7714 for the main newsroom line. ___ (c)2013 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |