Suspicious Activity at Oklahoma Meat Processing Facility Leads to Meth Arrests

Harrah police became suspicious of the activity going on behind closed doors at the Ur Way Custom Meat Processing facility when they began seeing the place frequented by known drug users. Investigators began observing the facility, located less than a quarter mile from the Harrah Police Department. The facility is owned by a city animal control officer, Gary Jamerson, and his wife Sandy. Police say that by January, the business was always closed, but Sandy Jamerson and another person were at the facility around the clock, never leaving for more than 30 minutes at a time, and never leaving the facility unattended.

Arrest in Methamphetamine Case

In June, police arrested a man leaving the facility who gave them all the information they needed to serve a warrant at Ur Way Custom Meat Processing. Earl Wayne Wilhite, 37, told police that he provided red phosphorous, a substance used in matchbook strike plates and meth manufacturing, to Sandy Jamerson in exchange for two grams of meth "when the cook is done." Wilhite said that although he had never been allowed inside the facility, he could smell the chemicals used to make meth whenever Sandy Jamerson opened the door to complete their transaction.

After police executed a search warrant at the facility last month, they arrested Gary and Sandy Jamerson on complaints of manufacturing methamphetamine. Gary Jamerson was fired from his city job after his arrest.

In Lincoln County in 2006, Gary Jamerson was given a 5-year deferred sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. Both Jamersons, along with Homers Meat Processing, were defendants in a 2009 civil suit asking an excess of $10,000 in damages. The civil complaint was dismissed with prejudice. Both Jamersons, separately in 2006, have also been named as defendants in civil debt collection complaints with money judgment less than $10,000. Gary's case was filed in Lincoln County, and Sandy's in Pottawatomie County.

Oklahoma Methamphetamine Laws

Under 63 O.S. § 2-401 of the Oklahoma Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act, manufacture of methamphetamine is a felony drug offense punishable by a maximum of life in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. Aggravated meth manufacture occurs when the amount of drug manufactured (or attempted to be manufactured) equals "fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, and salts of its isomers or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, or salts of its isomers." Aggravated manufacture of methamphetamine is punishable by a minimum of 20 years in prison.

Drug quantities are important in criminal cases, because it can mean the difference between possession, possession with intent to distribute, or drug trafficking charges. If you have been implicated in a trafficking case, it is imperative that you speak with a qualified attorney with experience fighting drug trafficking charges as the punishment for these crimes can be severe.

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