Manchester man faces up to 50 years in federal prison for importing sinus medicine from Canada

A Manchester man pleaded guilty Tuesday to three charges stemming from importing pseudoephedrine from Canada to Iowa to make methamphetamine and possessing unregistered gun silencers.

Roger Hettinger, 42, was convicted of conspiracy to import pseudoephedrine, possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture, and possession of four unregistered firearm silencers in U.S. District Court.

Hettinger admitted during the hearing to conspiring with others to import pseudoephedrine from Canada to manufacture methamphetamine in Iowa from June to December 2014. He also admitted to having the Canadian cold or allergy pills and the firearm silencers on Jan. 12.

Hettinger faces up to 50 years in federal prison and fines up to $750,000.

According to the plea, Hettinger was charged after a search of his home in rural Delaware County. He met law enforcement outside his house with a loaded pistol in his hand. After he was put into a police vehicle, he told his wife a phone call that was recorded by authorities that the police were 'lucky (he) didn't start unloading.” Hettinger also told his wife he wished he had set 'booby traps” inside the house, according to authorities.

Hettinger had 19 firearms in his home and detached garage during the Jan. 12 search, according to the plea. He was also unlawful user of meth when he had the firearms. During the search, officers also found items in the house and garage that had been stolen from area burglaries.

Items commonly used to manufacture meth, along with boxes of pseudoephedrine from Canada, also were found in the search, according to the plea. Hettinger imported the pills on at least, 18 occasions, totaling 216 grams. He also purchased the Canadian brand pseudoephedrine on eBay.

In Iowa, Hettinger purchased 92.64 grams of pseudoephedrine from local pharmacies from July 2013 through November 2014, according to the plea.

The other two charges against Hettinger will be dismissed at sentencing as part of the plea agreement.