Merced man sentenced to 15 years prison for intent to sell over 500 grams of meth
A 42-year-old Merced man was sentenced to prison for possessing drugs, a judge ruled Monday.
Richard Charles Thomas Jr. will serve 15 years and eight months in prison after he was found guilty with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, federal prosecutors said.
According to court documents, an officer attempted to stop Thomas for a traffic violation. Thomas accelerated and led officers in a high-speed chase through residential Merced streets on Aug. 25, 2020.
During the chase, he reached speeds of 100 mph, drove on the wrong side of the road, sped past stop signs, and tossed a bag out his car’s window.
Officers caught Thomas after he abandoned his still-moving car and fled on foot and recovered the bag, which contained several thousand dollars in cash and nearly 2 pounds of methamphetamine with 99% purity, according to court documents.
