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THREE PLEAD GUILTY IN MISSOURI ILLEGAL DRUG LAB CASE
Release Date: 12/08/2000
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, DEC. 8, 2000
THREE PLEAD GUILTY IN MISSOURI ILLEGAL DRUG LAB CASE
On Nov. 27, the last three defendants in a complex clandestine drug manufacturing case pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. William W. Parsley pleaded guilty to conspiracy, to the disposal of ignitable hazardous waste without a permit in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and to the disposal of corrosive hazardous waste without a permit, also in violation of RCRA. The second defendant, Markus Levis Mancel, pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Both face a maximum penalty of not less than 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $4,000,000. The third defendant, Robert Wayne Smith, pleaded guilty to manufacturing more than 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. He faces a maximum penalty of a fine not less than five years in prison and/or $2,000,000, when sentenced. Six other defendants, Mark Anthony Dorner, Clifford C. Dorner, Amy Lee Parsley, Carlon M. Wright, Daniel R. Johnson and Timothy W. Chitwood have previously been convicted and are awaiting sentencing. This case involved an extensive investigation that uncovered and closed down numerous illegal clandestine methamphetamine laboratory sites throughout Jefferson County, Mo. The illegal disposal of drug laboratory chemicals presented a serious environmental threat and puts people at risk due to the explosive, flammable and inherently toxic nature of the chemicals used in the process. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division with the help of EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center; the FBI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service; and state and local law enforcement agencies in Eastern Missouri. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. Louis.
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