Three men from the Carolinas sentenced in federal meth lab case

By: Jamie Rogers | SCNow
Published: February 09, 2010

Three men responsible for distributing methamphetamine in the Pee Dee and teaching others how to make the drug were handed federal sentences in connection with their crimes, according to a press release issued Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbia.
David Earl Watts, 49, of Polkton, N.C. was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Flint Davis Ratliff, 46, of Chesterfield was sentenced to 23 years in prison while his co defendant James Barnard Haithcock, 50, of Blenheim was handed an eight-year sentence.
All three men was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Terry L. Wooten after a two-week federal trial in April, according to the release.
The three men were also responsible for teaching at least 10 others how to make methamphetamine and are responsible for many of the meth labs later seized by law enforcement in the Pee Dee, Anson and Union counties over a six-year period.
During the trial, witnesses testified the group and their co-conspirators made about 20 ounces of meth each month.
They stole anhydrous ammonia tanks from businesses and farms throughout the Pee Dee in order to produce the drug, according to the release.
Co-conspirators also testified that Watts, Ratliff, and Haithcock often carried firearms.
The lead investigators on the case were Florence County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Koenig, Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Page and Anson County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Tice.
Also assisting were agents from the Marlboro County and Union County, N.C. Sheriff’s Offices, the State Law Enforcement Division, the Wadesboro, N.C. Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

Three men from the Carolinas sentenced in federal meth lab case

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