Third off nine defendants in meth conspiracy pleads guilty

 The third of nine defendants named in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in the Tri-County area pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday.

Jessica Lorene Napier, 31, of Barbourville, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of conspiracy to manufacture 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

Napier an co-defendants: Katherine Lynn Crook, Stephen Justin Barton, William Cornell Rains, Eric Tyler McNeil, Michael Scott Creech, Christopher Wayne Cassidy, Debra M. Cassidy and Amy Elizabeth Johnson were indicted on the conspiracy charge on April 25, 2013.

George Huffman, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Field Office in Louisville said previously that the indictment was handed down following a joint investigation between the ATF and U.S. Forest Service’s Two Rivers Drug Task Force with the cooperation of Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Corbin Police and Kentucky State Police.

According to the plea agreement, prosecutors said Napier was involved in the conspiracy between Jan. 2009 and March 2013.

On Aug. 19, 2011 law enforcement conducted a search at Napier’s residence, at which time they discovered the remains of a burn pit used to dispose of the waste from the meth labs.

“The defendant (Napier) was manufacturing methamphetamine at this period of time at both her residence and the residence of Crook,” officials stated in the plea agreement. “Crook would dispose of the remains from the methamphetamine laboratories near the residences under an overpass bridge while the defendant burned hers.”

The plea agreement went on to state that Napier manufactured meth either by herself or with Barton, Creech or Crook and that it was Crook who taught her how to make meth.

“The defendant (Napier) would do so with pseudoephedrine supplied to her by Michael Creech, Brett Barton, William Rains and others.”

During an interview with law enforcement on March 15, 2013, Napier admitted to manufacturing methamphetamine.

Napier is scheduled to return to federal court on June 5 for formal sentencing. She is facing 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million on the conspiracy charge and up to 10 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000 on the firearm charge.

McNeil and Creech have already been sentenced.

Crook and Johnson were also scheduled to plead guilty Thursday but the hearings were rescheduled for March 5.

Johnson’s hearing was rescheduled in order to resolve an issue with her plea agreement.

Crook’s attorney, David Hoskins, requested a continuance because of a scheduling conflict.

Christopher Cassidy is scheduled to be rearraigned on Feb. 19. Rains is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 19. Barton is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12. Debra Cassidy is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13.