Anderson man pleads guilty to federal meth trafficking charge

An Anderson man pleaded guilty to a meth trafficking charge today in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing will be scheduled at a later date for William S. Divine, 42.

A federal grand jury indicted Divine in June.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed when he was arrested earlier that month, Anderson police officers saw a woman known to have outstanding warrants leaving the Econo Lodge, 491 E. Highway 76 and attempted to stop her vehicle.

The woman, who is not identified, attempted to flee and hit a police car. Her car was disabled and she fled on foot with officers in pursuit. The woman eluded officers, who saw her drop a clear plastic bag containing approximately one-half ounce of methamphetamine.

Econo Lodge surveillance video showed the woman entering Divine's room, the affidavit says.

Officers searched the room and found a backpack that contained eight bags with 1,360 grams of methamphetamine.

According to the affidavit, the backpack contained a loaded Taurus .45-caliber handgun and documents with Divine’s name on them. Surveillance video from the Econo Lodge showed Divine carrying the backpack into the room.