Metabolifes Blevins Cops Plea in Firearms Case

SAN DIEGO--Michael Blevins, former owner of Metabolife International, plead guilty to firearms possession and will receive a lesser sentence in return for his cooperation in the ongoing case against his former company and its executives. Blevins, who was banned from owning a gun after a 1989 conviction for running a methamphetamine lab from his home, admitted in court to using a straw purchaser (an intermediary) to purchase a rifle, shotgun, .357 Magnum and ammunition from an El Cajon, Calif. gun shop in 2001 and 2002. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but prosecutors will recommend Blevins receive two years imprisonment in exchange for his substantial assistance. Blevins' wife, Danica Blevins, was also charged in the firearms arrest, but prosecutors are still determining if they will let her off the hook in lieu of her husbands plea.

Blevins served five years in prison following his meth lab bust, which was a part of what the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) called the single biggest roundup of methamphetamine manufacturers in U.S. history. According to court records, Blevins and high school pal Michael Ellis equipped a home to make at least 50 lbs. of methamphetamine. Ellis cut a deal for probation.

Following his imprisonment, Blevins joined Ellis in founding Metabolife, which grossed millions from sales of products based on now-banned ephedra. Ellis and Metabolife still face charges that they lied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the safety and potential dangers of its Metabolife 356 product. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in July under the weight of more than 360 lawsuits involving its ephedra supplements. The companys former chief financial officer (CFO), Jeff Anderman, revealed in a deposition that Ellis, Blevins and former owner Willaim Bradley skimmed money from the company and tried to hide it offshore and in a web of limited liability companies. 

Metabolife is still in chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in a New York court and is trying to negotiate the sale of its assets. After bidding $23.5 million for non-ephedra Metabolife assets, Hauppauge, N.Y.-based IdeaSphere Inc. (ISI) triggered its termination clause, rescinding the purchase offer and accusing Metabolife of not honoring its agreement to operate business as usual while in bankruptcy. According to ISI, Metabolife repeatedly refused to renegotiate for a price that more accurately reflects the value of the assets today, which ISI now places at $14 million.