Jason Dean Borden

A Bowling Green man who pleaded guilty to drug charges in what federal authorities are calling a conspiracy to deal crystal methamphetamine was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years in prison.

Jason Dean Borden, 47, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on charges of conspiring to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Borden accepted a plea agreement last year that dismissed two additional federal weapons charges that could have resulted in a longer incarceration.

U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers followed the recommendation in the plea agreement and imposed the 17-year sentence Tuesday.

Borden was arrested Feb. 13, 2015, following an investigation into a suspicious package from Santa Rosa, Calif., that was intercepted by a postal inspector in Bowling Green.

A federal judge authorized a search warrant on the package.

“Execution of the search warrant revealed approximately one and one-half pounds of crystal methamphetamine,” Borden’s plea agreement states.

Prosecutors say the package was tied to a conspiracy in which Borden engaged with others beginning in December 2014 to bring crystal meth into Kentucky.

A co-defendant, Charles Ickes, is accused of fronting an unindicted co-conspirator quantities of crystal meth, which would be sold to Borden, who would in turn break the meth down into smaller quantities to sell to others, according to court records.

Borden would make partial payments to the unindicted co-conspirator, and the money would be forwarded to Ickes, court records show.

Ickes, of California, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and other drug charges and awaits trial.

After seizing the package, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of the package on Feb. 13, 2015, with the unindicted co-conspirator agreeing to deliver the drugs to Borden and making two recorded phone calls to arrange the sale.

According to court documents, Borden was handed the package at a Bowling Green parking lot and placed under arrest, with authorities recovering the package, about $3,600 in cash, digital scales and a loaded revolver.

After being advised of his rights, Borden told police he had been selling meth for a few months leading up to his arrest.

While in jail, Borden had phone conversations with his nephew, Joshua Moore, who has pleaded guilty to taking part in the conspiracy, possessing meth with the intent to distribute and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.

“During those conversations, Borden made arrangements for Moore to collect debts owed for previous drug deliveries,” Borden’s plea agreement states. “Additionally, he had Moore retrieve more methamphetamine for distribution that Borden had previously hidden.”

Moore faces a 15-year sentence in his case.