MURPHYSBORO, Ill./U.S. DISTRICT COURT—On August 21, 2014, Heather L. Richey, 38, of Murphysboro, Ill., was sentenced for her involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Richey, who had previously pled guilty to the one-count indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, and fined $200. The offense occurred between 2010 and January 2014, in Jackson, Williamson, Union, and Franklin counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Richey obtained over 44 grams of pseudoephedrine to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Co-defendant Leeann Simmerman was previously sentenced to 108 months in prison for her involvement in the methamphetamine conspiracy. Co-defendants Greg Emery and Tasha Craig have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Ten other co-defendants have pled not guilty and are awaiting jury trial.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Carbondale Police Department, Illinois State Police/Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.