News media around the country are buzzing with the story of two men facing methamphetamine charges in St. Louis. One of the men is a white supremacist; the other, a black gang member.

The two men, along with five others, face serious federal meth charges for conspiracy to make methamphetamine, meth possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, distribution of meth (trafficking), and running a meth lab.

According to police, the drug crime involved using 150 people during a two-year period to purchase the decongestants required to make meth (decongestants with pseudoephedrine). The group would stand outside of doors and give people $20 to buy $10 worth of decongestants. Then, the supplier would sell those decongestants to the meth lab for up to $80 a box.

Since 2006, federal law has forbidden individuals to purchase large amounts of decongestant. Individuals may only purchase 9 grams each month. The government has since considered lowering those limits to 7.5 grams each month and making pseudoephedrine a prescription-only drug.

If you face federal meth charges

Federal meth charges carry serious consequences. For example, if you are convicted of meth trafficking involving 5-49 grams of pure meth or 50-499 grams of a meth mixture, you will face a mandatory prison sentence of 5 years and up to $5 million in fines (if you were working alone - if you worked in a group, the fines can increase to $25 million). Those penalties increase to at least 10 years in prison and up to $10 million in fines if you are charged with trafficking 50 grams or more of pure meth.

We don't share these potential penalties to scare you, but to inform you of the importance of fighting your meth charges with an experienced drug charges attorney. An attorney can help determine what defenses are available to you.

Source: Stltoday.com, "Police: White supremacist enlisted black gang member from St. Louis to help make meth," Christine Byers, Feb. 17, 2012.