Odessa Man Convicted After Turning Cold Medicine Into Methamphetamine
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: January 9, 2013
MIDLAND -- An Odessa man has been convicted on federal methamphetamine charges.
A federal jury in Midland convicted Paul David Copeland Jr. of possessing pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, and attempting to manufacture methamphetamine.
The guilty verdict came at the end of a two-day trial.
Copeland, 47, bought over-the-counter cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine -- a key ingredient in manufacturing methamphetamine -- from Odessa pharmacies such as Walgreen's, Walmart, Target, Albertson's, and H.E.B. between fall 2006 and August 2011.
Copeland also reportedly recruited at least 3 other people to purchase the same type of cold medicine on his behalf.
Prosecutors believe Copeland used the cold medicine to manufacture methamphetamines.
In fact, Ector County Sheriff's deputies reportedly found an active meth lab in Copeland's travel trailer and pickup truck in Odessa in 2007.
Copeland was arrested in April 2012, and he's been in federal custody since that time.
Copeland now faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count, along with 3 years supervised release and a $1 million fine.
Copeland is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on March 14, 2013.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Ector County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case against Copeland.
A federal jury in Midland convicted Paul David Copeland Jr. of possessing pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, and attempting to manufacture methamphetamine.
The guilty verdict came at the end of a two-day trial.
Copeland, 47, bought over-the-counter cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine -- a key ingredient in manufacturing methamphetamine -- from Odessa pharmacies such as Walgreen's, Walmart, Target, Albertson's, and H.E.B. between fall 2006 and August 2011.
Copeland also reportedly recruited at least 3 other people to purchase the same type of cold medicine on his behalf.
Prosecutors believe Copeland used the cold medicine to manufacture methamphetamines.
In fact, Ector County Sheriff's deputies reportedly found an active meth lab in Copeland's travel trailer and pickup truck in Odessa in 2007.
Copeland was arrested in April 2012, and he's been in federal custody since that time.
Copeland now faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count, along with 3 years supervised release and a $1 million fine.
Copeland is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on March 14, 2013.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Ector County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case against Copeland.
