A Sweetwater man charged with various drug crimes by the federal government will spend at least five years in jail after he pleaded guilty on Feb. 12.

Brandon Lynn Steele, 34, was arrested last fall after an investigation showed he and Boonie Stokes and Dean Grissom were making methamphetamine at a house on Creek Road outside of Sweetwater.

Steele and Stokes are both alleged to be involved with the Jim Miller murder in 2011, but neither man has ever been charged in connection with that case and this charge and plea had nothing to do with Miller.

Steele pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five grams of methamphetamine or 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. In exchange, the state agreed to drop any and all other charges.

See full story in the Sunday, Feb. 24, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.