Two Perry County Residents Sentenced for Methamphetamine Offense

On August 27, 2015, and August 31, 2015, Joseph E. Soldan, Sr., 45, of Tamaroa, and Donald K. Brown, Jr., 32, of DuQuoin, were sentenced for their involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

Both Soldan and Brown had previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging them and four others with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Soldan was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and fined $850.00. Soldan was given 17 months’ credit for time served on related state case for a total prison sentence of 134 months. Brown was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and fined $725.00. The offense occurred between 2012 and September 2014, in Perry, Jackson, Randolph, Williamson, and Franklin Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Soldan and Brown were involved with each other and with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. At sentencing, the district court found Soldan responsible for 55.2 grams of pseudoephedrine, which was possessed for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine. Brown was found responsible for 165.36 grams of pseudoephedrine. Three co-defendants have previously been sentenced for their roles in the methamphetamine conspiracy. One co-defendant has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Drug Task Force, Murphysboro Police Department, and DuQuoin Police Department. The Pinckneyville Police Department and Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team assisted in the investigation.

The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.