The federal court system (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois) has been VERY busy working drug cases, and the following either indictments or sentencings have been handled recently, according to multiple press releases from Stephen Wigginton, U.S. Attorney.
CARBONDALE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HEROIN OFFENSE
On February 14, 2014, Michael Burns, 45, of Carbondale, Illinois, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute heroin, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Evidence at the plea hearing established that, between August 2012, and August 23, 2013, Burns was involved with others in the distribution of heroin in Carbondale, Jackson County. On multiple occasions between November 2012 and August 2013, Burns sold heroin to confidential sources working for law enforcement. When agents executed a search warrant at Burns’ Carbondale residence, they located heroin, cannabis, drug packaging materials, and a large amount of United States currency. At his plea hearing, Burns admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of more than one kilogram of heroin and 200-300 grams of cocaine. Burns is currently being held without bond pending a May 22, 2014, sentencing hearing. The heroin offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $1,000,000 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Illinois State Police Tactical Response Team also assisted during the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.
PERRY COUNTY MAN SENTENCED ON METHAMPHETAMINE CONSPIRACY
On February 14, 2014, Virgil L. Easton, of Cutler, Illinois, was sentenced in United States District Court in Benton for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.
Easton had previously pled guilty to the methamphetamine offense, which occurred between January 2011, and January 2013, in Perry, Jackson, and Randolph Counties. Easton was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and fined $200. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Easton obtained and provided over 70 grams of pseudoephedrine for use during the manufacture of methamphetamine. Thirteen co-defendants have previously been sentenced for their role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. One co-defendant has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, the Percy Police Department, the Murphysboro Police Department, the Sparta Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.
FOUR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH METHAMPHETAMINE CONSPIRACY
On February 4, 2014, Gregory A. Emery, 47, Murphysboro, and Brandon K. Craig, 31, Tasha L. Craig, 30, and Rachel L. Simmerman, 41, all of Carbondale, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
The offense occurred between 2010 and January 2014, in Jackson, Williamson, Union, and Franklin Counties. The four co-defendants made their initial appearances in federal court on February 10, 2014. At February 14, 2014, detention hearings, Emery, Brandon Craig, and Tasha Craig were ordered held without bond pending an April 21, 2014, jury trial.
The methamphetamine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Murphysboro Police Department, the Carbondale Police Department, the Illinois State Police/Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
RANDOLPH COUNTY WOMAN SENTENCED ON METHAMPHETAMINE OFFENSES
On February 13, 2014, Rachel S. Holt, 40, of Sparta, Illinois, was sentenced on three methamphetamine-related offenses, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Holt, who had previously pled guilty to a three-count indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and two counts of possession of pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine, was sentenced to 114 months in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release and fined $600.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that between 2009 and March 2013, Holt was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine in Jackson, Randolph, and St. Clair Counties. On March 17, 2010, Holt obtained pseudoephedrine pills at stores in both Sparta and Belleville. On September 30, 2011, Holt and four co-conspirators purchased pseudoephedrine pills together at Carbondale and Murphysboro stores. The pseudoephedrine was obtained for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine. At sentencing, the district court determined that Holt was responsible for illegally obtaining over 261 grams of pseudoephedrine.
The investigation was conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Sparta Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.
PERRY COUNTY WOMAN SENTENCED FOR METHAMPHETAMINE CONSPIRACY
On February 12, 2014, Julie A. Keller, a/k/a Julie Smith and Julie Keller-Smith, 35, of Pinckneyville, Illinois, was sentenced in United States District Court in Benton on a charge of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.
Keller, who had previously pled guilty to the methamphetamine offense, was sentenced to 97 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and fined $200. The offense occurred between 2010 and November 2012, in Jackson and Randolph Counties.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Keller supplied pseudoephedrine to others for use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. At sentencing, the district court found that Keller was responsible for unlawfully possessing more than 100 grams of pseudoephedrine. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.
PERRY COUNTY MAN SENTENCED FOR METHAMPHETAMINE CONSPIRACY
On February 12, 2014, Michael J. Lasky, 55, of DuQuoin, Illinois, was sentenced in federal court on a methamphetamine offense, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Lasky, who had previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, was sentenced to 108 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and fined $200. The offense occurred between 2012 and June 2013, in Perry, Jackson and Randolph Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Lasky was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Lasky would travel with others to obtain pseudoephedrine pills and was also involved in the manufacturing process. At sentencing, the district court determined that Lasky was responsible for unlawfully possessing more than 123 grams of pseudoephedrine. Two co-defendants have previously pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, the Perry County Drug Task Force, the Murphysboro Police Department, the DuQuoin Police Department, the Pinckneyville Police Department, the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Perry County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.
ELKVILLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO METHAMPHETAMINE OFFENSE
On February 13, 2014, Kenneth R. Tyner, 53, Elkville, Illinois, pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Evidence at the plea hearing established that, between August 2011, and April 2012, Tyner was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine in Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties. Tyner obtained and provided pseudoephedrine to others to use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Tyner is currently being held without bond pending a May 16, 2014, sentencing date. The methamphetamine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $1,000,000 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police/Southern Illinois Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.