U.S. DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT ILLINOIS (Benton)—On June 11, 2014, Michael Burns, 45, of Carbondale, Illinois, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for a heroin offense, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Burns, who had previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute heroin, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release following prison, and fined $400. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings 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 sentencing, the district court found that Burns was responsible for the distribution of 1.1 kilograms of heroin. Burns was classified as a Career Offender.
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 was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.