(KLZA)-- A Richardson County man has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years and four months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Stephen Russell in news release said 47-year-old Michael Tinsley was handed the sentence Thursday. After his release from prison, Tinsley will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

In December 2020, a Richardson County Deputy Sheriff attempted to stop a Chevy Avalanche driven by Tinsley.  He fled from the deputy at a high rate of speed.  Minutes later, the deputy found the Avalanche abandoned in a ditch. 

During an inventory search of the vehicle, investigators found methamphetamine, syringes, spoons with residue, two scales, and two cell phones. The deputy obtained a search warrant for the Avalanche and for the cell phones.  During a search of the seized cell phones, Miller said investigators found evidence of drug distribution by Tinsley. The methamphetamine was tested and confirmed to be at least 120 grams of pure methamphetamine.

Miller said several witnesses told investigators that Tinsley had been selling them methamphetamine in varying quantities in 2019 and 2020.

On January 4, 2021, Tinsley was arrested at a Lincoln hotel by a Lancaster County Sheriff’s Deputy. He had about 7.6 grams methamphetamine and a pipe on him.  He admitted he had used methamphetamine in the past and admitted that he had methamphetamine on his person.

This case was investigated by the Richardson County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.