Nine now have intentions of pleading guilty in Canadatown meth conspiracy case

Jerry Wayne White pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to his part in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, bringing the number of defendants in the case who have or notified the court of their intention to plead guilty to nine of the 28 named in the indictment.

White pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture 50 or more grams of a substance containing methamphetamine.
According to the plea agreement, White admitted to acting as a cook in the conspiracy, which was ongoing between Jan. 2010 and July 3, 2013.

In addition to his involvement in the manufacturing, the plea agreement states that White distributed the finished meth to other, unnamed, individuals in exchanged for supplies of methamphetamine precursors.

“Based on controlled purchases, drugs seized, witness statements, pseudoephedrine logs, and other evidence, the Defendant admits that the United States could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he is responsible for the manufacture of between 50 grams and 200 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine,” the plea agreement states.

White is facing five to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million and at least four years of supervised release when he is formally sentenced on May 14 in federal court in London.

Five others, Wendell Ralph Canada, Joanna Cansler, Teanna Marie Cansler, William Helbig Jr., Harrison B. Sulfridge and Jason Wade Taylor have filed motions for rearraignment within the last two weeks and is scheduled to appear in federal court in London for a rearraignment hearing in January.

Teanna Cansler is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 8.

Helbig is scheduled to appear at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 22

Canada is scheduled to appear at 11 a.m. on Jan. 23.

Sulfridge is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 23

Joanna Cansler is scheduled to appear at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 23.

Taylor is scheduled to appear at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 23

Two other defendants Robert Joe Gibson and Jamie Mark Gibson, pleaded guilty.

Just like White, the Gibsons each admitted to acting as cooks in the conspiracy and distributing a portion of the finished meth in exchange for precursors.

They, too are facing five to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million.

James Russell Bennett had filed a motion to plead guilty. According to court records, he failed to appear for his rearraignment hearing on Dec. 11.

At Bennett’s next appearance following his arrest, his attorney, C William Swinford Jr., asked to the court to send Bennett for a competency hearing.

As the jury trial is expected to go forward with Bennett as a defendant and the number of motions for rearraignment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Dotson filed a motion to continue the Jan. 14 trial date.

U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove granted the motion, resetting the trial date for Feb. 25.

The remaining defendants, include: Anna Davis, George Thomas Hubbard, Ryan David Carlson, James Russell Bennett, Suzann Judy Phillips, David Allen Davis, Bobby Darrell Canada II, Lisa Canada Ball, Daniel John Moeser, Michelle Manning, Wayne Carl Marcus, Danny Lee Fyffe, Beverly Wilson, Anthony Levi Rose, Billy Ray Richardson, Robert Church, Mark A. Morrow, Aaron David Ellison and James Forest Manning.

Over a three-year period, the group is accused of "cooking" or making methamphetamine or conspiring to make methamphetamine at 21 different locations most of which were in the Canadatown area, said Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird.

Bird noted that all 21 locations where the defendants made meth were located in fairly close proximity to one another.

"They all knew each other. They all worked in concert with each other," Bird said. "It is especially large scale, especially for that community."

During the course of the investigation, authorities say there were known meth labs as part of the conspiracy located at 1188 Highway 90, Corbin; 150 Press Barn Hill; 893 Log Cabin Road; 41 Gibson Lane; 2700 Highway 204; Boyd White Road; 576 Jim Walker Road and Nannie Hubbard Road in addition to two other known labs where addresses were not listed.

Authorities say there were meth labs discovered and arrests made at the following locations during the investigation, including: Highway 90, Corbin; Brays Chapel Road; 35 Gibson Lane; Youngs Creek; 52 Plum Lane; 92 Plum Lane; 878 Letha Petrey Road; another location on Letha Petrey Road; 2568 Highway 204; 2603 Highway 204; and 421 Nannie Hubbard Road.

The indictment was the result an investigation that began when a meth lab and explosive device were found at Ball and Moser’s home on Nannie Hubbard Road during a visit by probation officers in March.

According to the affidavit filed by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Todd Tremaine, probation officers had gone to the home on March 1 to conduct an in-home probation visit on Moser, who was on probation following a felony conviction in Whitley County for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“Upon entering the residence, officers were immediately overwhelmed with the smell of marijuana,” Tremaine stated in the complaint.

In addition, probation officers reported finding various drug paraphernalia around the room including, several razor blades, a hollowed out pen, a small glass pipe and a small set of scales.

Probation officers asked Moeser to take them back through the house, during which they reported finding more drug paraphernalia and three small baggies containing white residue.

Tremaine stated probation officers contacted Williamsburg Police for assistance.

Though Moeser had conditions to his release stating that his residence was subject to search, Tremaine stated that the probation officers asked for and were granted consent to search by Moeser and Ball. At the time, Jerry Wayne White was visiting the residence.

Probation officers reported finding an active one-step meth lab on the stop shelf of a Moeser’s bedroom closet.

Tremaine stated that Ball asked to use the bathroom and was permitted but was accompanied by Probation officer Angie Ballou.
Before Ball entered the bathroom, Ballou reportedly asked her to empty her pockets.

“Ball removed a bag of suspected marijuana, a $20 bill, and a small reading glasses case,” Tremaine stated. “Officer Ballou opened the case and observed several small baggies containing white powder,” Ball told Officer Ballou, “It’s dope.’”

Tremaine stated probation officers were searching the back bedroom when they found the explosive device hidden inside a tall men’s work boot underneath a computer table.

“Officer Ballou picked up the boot and could feel something heavy inside the boot,” Tremaine stated. “Officer Ballou looked inside the boot and observed an unidentifiable device with red and yellow wires.”

Ballou asked Williamsburg Police Officer Brandon Prewitt, who had responded to the call for assistance, to look inside the boot to see if he could determine what was inside.

Prewitt contacted Bird, who instructed them to place the boot back on the floor and evacuate the premises.

Bird contacted Tremaine for assistance.

Upon examining the device, Tremaine determined it to be “Kinestick,” which he described as a commercial explosive made with ammonium nitrate.

When asked about the explosive, Tremaine stated that Moeser confirmed what it was and said he took it at the request of his foreman while working for a power line company just after Sept. 11, 2001.

Moser stated that his foreman told the crew that he needed to get rid of some of this product because of the new restrictions on explosives after 9/11,” Tremaine stated.

Tremaine added that Moeser said he had taken six sticks of the explosive and eight electric detonators and gave five of the sticks to his grandfather, who is now deceased.

“Moester stated that all he had left was the one stick and two detonators,” Tremaine stated. “Moeser stated that he taped the liquid and detonators to the device. “Moeser stated that there was no batter attached to the device.”

Moeser went on to detail his history of manufacturing methamphetamine, explained it was mainly for personal use.

He added that White would come to his house to cook methamphetamine and that he would frequently purchase pseudoephedrine for White to use.

When Tremaine questioned White, he stated that White admitted to cooking meth four to five time within the past month, but did not know anything about the meth lab probation officers found at Moeser’s residence or the explosive device.

The initial indictment, which named: Moeser, Ball, Bobby Canada, David Davis, Fyffe, Robert Gibson, Michelle Manning, Marcus, Richardson, White, Wilson and Rose, was returned in May.

A superseding indictment naming the additional defendants was handed down in July naming Jamie Gibson and 15 others as defendants in the case.