Man set to be sentenced today on federal meth charges

A local man, found guilty of conspiring to manufacture and sell large quantities of methamphetamine in Knox, Laurel and Whitley county, will be formally sentenced by a federal judge today.

Paul Linville Bargo could face up to life imprisonment and millions of dollars in fines by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove today, but is likely to receive a sentence much less harsh.

Bargo was first indicted by a grand jury in Feb. 2008 of conspiring to make 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and sell it in the three counties from 2004 through 2008.

According to an affidavit filed in the case by Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Michael V. Kersey, authorities originally began investigating Bargo after receiving information from confidential sources in late 2005 regarding his drug activities. The sources told Kersey Bargo had been a "drug dealer his entire adult life," and that he produced and sold methamphetamine on numerous occasions.

In 2008, a Kentucky State Police informant told authorities that Bargo had been directing other people to purchase the ingredients to make meth and that he boasted "he is the best methamphetamine cook around."

Acting in an undercover capacity, police struck a deal to provide Bargo with a large quantity Sudafed tablets in return for finished methamphetamine in Feb. 2008. They were to meet at Love’s Truck Stop in off Exit 29 in Corbin to make the exchange of Sudafed.

The undercover officer gave Bargo a duffel bag with 108 boxes of Sudafed – enough to make three or four ounces of meth. The meeting was recorded by police using audio and video equipment, and Bargo was taken into custody shortly after the exchange.

In late January of this year, Bargo was convicted by a jury of the meth-related charges. Prior to trial he agreed to plead guilty to numerous charges of selling marijuana and other drugs.

The jury acquitted Bargo on accusations that he, or others on his behalf, tried to intimidate witnesses set to testify against him in the case by sending them letters directing them not to show up for court or calling them.

The jury deliberated about four and a half hours before reaching a verdict.

Two other drug-related charges were dropped at the request of prosecutors.

Bargo was represented by London attorney Thomas Hunter Payne at trial.