A Bowling Green man admitted in court Tuesday to his role in what authorities say was a conspiracy to bring crystal methamphetamine here through the mail from California.

Jason Dean Borden, 46, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to 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 reached a plea agreement with prosecutors that would dismiss two additional counts of weapons-related offenses while recommending 17 years imprisonment.

Federal prosecutors claimed that Borden conspired with others in Bowling Green and elsewhere from December 2014 until February 2015 to ship meth into Bowling Green.

Charles Ickes, who has pleaded not guilty to taking part in the conspiracy, is accused of fronting an unindicted co-conspirator quantities of crystal meth, which would be sold to Borden. From there, Borden would break the meth down into smaller quantities and sell it to others, according to the plea agreement.

Borden would make partial payments to the unindicted co-conspirator, and the money would be forwarded to Ickes, the plea agreement states.

Law enforcement arrested Borden on Feb. 13, 2015, after a federal judge authorized a search warrant for a package from Santa Rosa, Calif., that was intercepted by a postal inspector in Bowling Green.

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

Law enforcement then conducted a controlled delivery of the package that day, with the unindicted co-conspirator agreeing to deliver the drugs to Borden and making two recorded phone calls to arrange the sale, court records show.

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, court records show.

“He stated he had received pound quantities of methamphetamine during the past three or four months on several different occasions and he stated he thought he was receiving two pounds of crystal methamphetamine on this date,” the plea agreement states.

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,” the plea agreement states. “Additionally, he had Moore retrieve more methamphetamine for distribution that Borden had previously hidden.”

Moore faces a 15-year sentence in the case, while Ickes is set to stand trial on Jan. 31. 

Borden is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 7 by U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers.

— Follow courts reporter Justin Story on Twitter @jstorydailynews or visit bgdailynews.com