Plea in Federal Drug Case
Posted/updated on: February 4, 2012 at 5:45 am
TYLER – A Panola County man has pleaded guilty to drug violations in an appearance in Tyler federal court. Keith Earl Kates, 42, of Deberry, pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine in an appearance Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. Kates faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to federal prosecutors, last May, Kates purchased cold pills at Walgreens and Wal-Mart stores in Marshall, Texas, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. Kates was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 11, 2011.
