A Warren County man who was caught with a small package of methamphetamine while undercover narcotics agents were investigating a plot to ship several ounces of the drug through the mail is headed to prison.

James Thomas Smith, 47, 556 Smithhart Road, pleaded guilty this week to possession of a controlled substance as a second or subsequent drug offender. Circuit Judge M. James Chaney sentenced him to six years in prison to include long-term alcohol and drug treatment.

Smith must also pay a $1,000 fine and $884.50 in court costs.

He was previously convicted of possession of more than 2 grams of meth in 2003 and possession of more than .1 grams but less than 2 grams of meth in 2002, leading to the sentencing enhancement.

At 11:30 a.m. Jan. 10, Smith was delivering a dryer to a home at 2540 Oak Ridge Road when undercover Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents were delivering of 3 ounces of methamphetamine that had been shipped through he mail.

“Once Smith observed the agents and was given commands to “get down” he dropped approximately 1 gram of crystal methamphetamine on the ground next to him and then laid on the ground as commanded,” an undercover agent whose name has been redacted wrote in Smith’s arrest report.

Smith later told agents that he paid $100 for the gram of meth.

Agents delivered the package of meth to Alicia Carroll, who lived at the Oak Ridge address, and Carroll was arrested. She has been indicted, and the case is pending in Ninth Circuit Court, officials with the District Attorney’s Office said.