Butler County man found guilty on drug charge

A Butler County man was sentenced Monday to more than eight years in federal prison for buying a large quantity of cold pills from a government informant with the intent to make methamphetamine.

Joshua Blocker, 23, received approximately 1,475 pseudoephedrine pills from the informant on Jan. 6, according to a news release issued by U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway. In exchange, Blocker promised to give the informant seven to 10 grams of methamphetamine once he had finished making the drug, the statement said.

Pseudoephedrine, commonly sold under the brand name Sudafed, is a key ingredient in making methamphetamine. Blocker was caught by an undercover operation run by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force. He was arrested after taking delivery of the pills from a location that was wired for video and sound recording, according to the statement from Hanaway.