Oklahoma man sentenced to 20 years for possessing a gun while dealing methamphetamine after HSI investigation
OKLAHOMA CITY –An Enid, Oklahoma, man was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with the Enid Police Department.
Jerry James Kendall Ritchie, 32, was indicted federally Nov. 13, 2018, with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm. These charges stemmed from his Oct. 19, 2018, arrest by the Enid Police Department.
According to court documents and trial evidence, Ritchie attempted to flee from law enforcement and then refused to comply with police officers when he was caught. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, Enid police officers located nearly 14 grams of methamphetamine and a handgun hidden under the hood of the vehicle.
Ritchie was convicted by a federal jury on all counts April 11, 2019.
On Wednesday, Ritchie was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on the drug count, which will run concurrent to 10 years on the firearm count, to be followed by an additional five years on the conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, for a total sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The judge also imposed three years of supervised release.
“HSI is committed to combat the dangerous threat methamphetamine poses to the well-being of our citizens and public safety of our communities,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI Dallas. “This sentence exemplifies the effectiveness of collaborative law enforcement efforts to get dangerous drug dealers off the streets and locked up behind bars.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wilson McGarry and Nicholas Patterson prosecuted the case in the Western District of Oklahoma.
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