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News Release [print
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OCT 09 -- (EAST ST. LOUIS, IL) - A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on October 8, 2009, Scott Lee JOHNSON , age 48, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was convicted after a four-day trial by a jury in East St. Louis, Illinois of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Distribution of Cocaine, and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The violations began around January of 2005 and continued until April 4, 2008 in East St. Louis and Washington Park, Illinois. The evidence at trial showed that the Defendant received shipments of multiple kilograms of cocaine, which he resold in the East St. Louis area. JOHNSON is the former owner of the Best Fish House in East St. Louis. Because of JOHNSON’s prior federal drug conviction, he faces penalties of not less than 20 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $8,000,000, a term of at least 10 years supervised release, and a $300 special assessment. In addition to the criminal penalties, JOHNSON faces forfeiture of six firearms, a house in Washington Park, Illinois, a house in East St. Louis, Illinois, and $375,000 in drug proceeds. JOHNSON’s co-defendant, Lisa LAMB , age 45, was also convicted at trial of Obstruction of Justice. The evidence at trial showed that LAMB attempted to destroy evidence during the execution of a search warrant at the Washington Park house on April 4, 2008. LAMB faces penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, not more than 3 years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Donald S. Boyce and Kelly Lake prosecuted the case. |
