OAKLAND – LAWFUEL- The Law News Network – United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan announced that David Conkey, 62, and Carol Conkey, 60, both of San Ramon, California, were sentenced today for their role in distributing chemicals that they had reasonable cause to believe would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. Senior U.S. District Judge D. Lowell Jensen sentenced Mr. Conkey to 1 year in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Ms. Conkey was sentenced to three years of probation. These sentences are the result of an investigation by agents of the California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, DEA, IRS, and the Concord Police Department.
Mr. and Ms. Conkey were convicted for operating Alpha Chemical Supply, which from 1992 to 2001, distributed thousands of pounds of hydriodic acid, red phosphorous, and iodine. The jury found that Mr. and Ms. Conkey knew or had reasonable cause to believe that the chemicals would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
This conviction is one in a series of civil and criminal charges brought against chemical supply companies in Northern California for selling chemicals and/or equipment knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the items would be used to manufacture controlled substances. The other companies include Custom Laboratory Supply, CFRI (Chemicals for Research and Industry), and All Discount Laboratory Supply. Custom Laboratory Supply was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, and the defendants received sentences between ten and twenty four years. The defendants associated with All Discount Laboratory Supply were convicted for possessing and distributing chemicals and equipment that they had reasonable cause to believe would be used to manufacture over 80 tons of methamphetamine.
On March 22, 2005, David Conkey was convicted of the following counts:
* 2 counts of conspiracy to distribute iodine and red phosphorous knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine;
* 1 count of possession and distribution of iodine knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine; and
* 1 count of money laundering.
Also on March 22, 2005, Carol Conkey was convicted of the following counts:
* 2 counts of conspiracy to distribute iodine and red phosphorous knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine;
* 8 counts of possession and distribution of red phosphorous and iodine knowing, intending, or having reasonable cause to believe that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Mr. and Ms. Conkey were indicted by a federal grand jury in a superseding indictment on August 12, 2004.
Alexis Hunter and Lew Davis are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Cynthia Daniel, Kathleen Glynn, Diana Wong, Sutton Peirce, Tim Kingwell, Barbara Phillips, Patty Lau, and Noble Hughes.
