Two sentenced in meth ring bust

MIDLAND Sentences were handed down Thursday to several people convicted of taking part in a methamphetamine distribution ring that operated in Odessa, Midland and Monahans, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Among them, David Alan Aldridge of Odessa was given a life sentence in federal prison for his role in the ring, which was raided in December. Co-defendant Michael Glyn Rains of Odessa received 20 years in the federal pen. Both were convicted in April of 21 federal charges, including conspiracy to manufacture over 50 grams of methamphetamine and conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, the release said.

Pseudoephedrine is a substance found in some over-the-counter cold and allergy pills that can be used to make meth in large amounts. Legally people can purchase no more than 3.6 grams of the substance in a day or 9 grams in a 30-day period.

Prosecutors said Aldridge and at least 15 other people in his ring, who all pleaded guilty to various other charges, went to 15 pharmacies in the Odessa-Midland area and purchased the over-the-counter drugs containing hundreds of grams of pseudoephedrine between December of 2005 and November.

At the time of their arrests, investigators suspected the meth ring had connections to the Aryan Brotherhood. Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Tela Mange said some of the group members went as far as Lubbock and Big Spring to buy cold and allergy pills for the operation. Authorities raided 12 labs, including one in Odessa.

During a news conference in December after the arrests, DPS Narcotics Service Lt. Robert Ralls said investigators took advantage of a law requiring people to show their ID and put their names in a log at drug stores when buying drugs containing pseudoephedrine, among other substances. Investigators checking these logs determined Aldridge and Rains were buying illegal amounts.