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U.S. DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT, ILLINOIS—On September 11, 2014, Rusty J. Smith, 35, of Cobden, Illinois, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging 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 Smith was involved with co-defendant Ruth Diane Wiseman and others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Wiseman and others supplied pseudoephedrine pills to Smith to use to manufacture methamphetamine. The offense occurred between 2012 and March 2014, in Union, Williamson, and Jackson Counties. The methamphetamine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. Smith is currently being held without bond pending a December 16, 2014, sentencing hearing. Wiseman has previously pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Two co-defendants have pled not guilty and are awaiting a jury trial.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police Department, Carbondale Police Department, Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team and Drug Enforcement Administration. The 19th Judicial District Drug Task Force (Tennessee) assisted in the investigation.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.