Nicholas Barrios Rattray, 40, of Batesville-Leesville, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Nov. 28, 2018, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department narcotics agents visited Rattray’s Leesville residence after receiving information that Rattray was possibly involved in the distribution of methamphetamine.

While agents spoke briefly with Rattray at the residence, they could smell the odor of marijuana and determined that the smell was coming from Rattray’s residence. A search warrant was obtained for the property. During a subsequent search of the residence and a vehicle parked on the property, agents found over 500 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms, marijuana, and over $10,000 in cash among other items consistent with drug distribution.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Rattray to 60 months in prison, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.