A man who was trying to manufacture Fentanyl at a clandestine Ringgold, Ga., lab has been sentenced to serve 121 months in federal prison.
Michael Charon was sentenced by Judge Travis McDonough.
Prosecutors said Charon was producing pills with Fentanyl and Alvin Tenenbaum was distributing the pills - mainly in Chattanooga. They said a large number of weapons were found in the lab - an outbuilding on Pisgah AVenue in Ringgold.
On June 28, 2018, ATF agents used a confidential source to purchase 50 pills containing Fentanyl from Tennebaum at 8027 Davidson Road in Chattanooga. Agents said Tenenbaum went from 949 Charlotte Ave. to the Davidson Road address with the pills.
On July 21, 2018, a source purchased 507 pills containing Fentanyl from Tenenbaum. Agents saw Tennebaum meeting with Charon at the Charlotte Avenue house prior to the pill delivery.
On July 27, 2018, search warrants were carried out at 949 Charlotte Ave. and at Tenenbaum's home in Ringgold. Agents also spoke with Charon.
Both men admitted they were involved in selling pills marked as regular narcotics, but which contained Fentanyl. Charon admitted manufacturing pills containing Fentanyl and providing them to Tenenbaum.
Attorney Hillary Hodgkins said Charon tried to use a formula to produced Fentanyl, but was never successful at it. She said he is a very shy, introverted person. She said he had suffered a tragic loss with the death of his daughter when she was starting college.
Attorney Hodgkins said the father of Charon was in the military and many of the weapons belonged to him.
Judge McDonough said Charon and Tenenbaum "were pushing Fentanyl to a lot of people." He noted the deadly nature of the substance.
Prosecutor Kyle Wilson said it is possible to use "the dark net" to order Fentanyl and all manner of illegal drugs.
Tenenbaum was sentenced earlier to 103 months in federal prison.