U.S. DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT, ILLINOIS—Thomas Gregory Lilley, 36, of Fontana, California, pled guilty today in United States District Court in Benton to charges that he possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute it and that he possessed a loaded semi-automatic pistol during and in relation to that crime, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.
The offenses occurred on April 24, 2014, in Fairfield, Illinois.
Sentencing was set for February 18, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Benton. At that time, Lilley faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a $1 million fine, and 3 years to life on supervised release following his incarceration on the methamphetamine charge and a consecutive 5 years to life, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release on the firearm charge.
Lilley has been held in the custody of the United States Marshal since his arrest on federal charges in May. He was returned to the custody of the Marshal to await sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Carmi office of the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.