Store owner jailed on meth charges

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Deputy Jason Satterwhite secures the parking lot outside the former Hillis’ Market on Old Smithville Highway as investigators search the premises following the arrest of local businessman Sam Patel Thursday. (Duane Sherrill photo)

The owner of a string of local convenience stores faces federal drug charges for selling meth-making materials out of his stores and his home.

The store owner, Suresh (Sam) Patel, 49, was arraigned Friday before a federal magistrate in Chattanooga on eight counts of sale of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine. He will be released on $100,000 bond and appear for hearing Sept. 12.

“He’s in a world of trouble,” said Sheriff Jackie Matheny after Patel was arrested Thursday afternoon. His home and one of his stores located on Old Smithville Road (the former Hillis’ Market) were searched.

Patel’s arrest ended a year-long undercover sting operation conducted by local lawmen along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

It was during the sting the undercover agents reported buying large quantities of Pseudo 60s from Patel at his stores: the former Hillis’ Market, Marc’s Market, Stop & Go, and also at his home. The over-the-counter pep pills contained psuedoephedrine used in the production of meth.

“They’d buy up to a case sometimes,” Matheny said. “He knew what they were likely going to be used for. He can’t claim ignorance on this.”

Matheny said the sales were pre-arranged between the operatives and Patel and occurred on at least eight occasions over the past year.

The charges could mean a lengthy jail term for the local entrepreneur as prior arrests of store owners on similar charges have drawn long federal sentences.

Most recently, Gary Dodson, owner of Bridgeside Market on Beersheba Street, received 40 months in federal prison while his store manager received 21 years on similar charges. A store owner in neighboring Coffee County is presently serving 12 years in prison after his arrest in a similar sting in 2001.

Patel’s arrest on the meth charges are only the most recent legal trouble for the businessman as he was convicted of selling beer to an underage operative at one of his stores last year.

The arrest of Patel, however, is not the last to be heard from the operation, according to Matheny, as more arrests are planned in the near future regarding the illegal sale of meth-making products.