WILLIAMSON CO., Ill./U.S. DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT, ILLINOIS—On October 22, 2014, Michael A. Boyt, Sr., 42, of Marion, and Matthew S. Beers, 31, of Johnston City, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
The offense occurred between 2012 and January 2014, in Williamson, Perry, Jackson, and Randolph counties. Evidence at the plea hearings established that Beers and others were supplying pseudoephedrine pills to Boyt for use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. During a November 2013 traffic stop, officers located an active methamphetamine lab in Beers’ vehicle. Beers was transporting the lab for Boyt. Boyt is currently being held without bond pending a February 11, 2015, sentencing hearing. The district court allowed Beers to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The methamphetamine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Illinois State Police/Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, Murphysboro Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team assisted in the investigation.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.