On February 11, 2011, Eric Shafer, 36, of Lynchburg Road, Mt. Vernon, Ill.-, plead guilty in
United States District Court at Benton, Ill.-, to a one count indictment charging him with Possession of
a Listed Chemical (Pseudoephedrine) Knowing it Would Be Used to Manufacture a Controlled Substance
(Methamphetamine), the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R.
Wigginton, announced today. The violation took place from on or about September, 2007, through
October, 2010, in Jefferson, and Franklin Counties. After his plea, Shafer’s detention was continued, thus
he was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing (set for 10 a.m., May
12, 2011).

At his plea, Shafer admitted to the court that from September, 2007, through October,2010, he
would purchase or obtain pseudoephedrine pills from others for use in manufacturing methamphetamine.
Records from several merchants throughout southern Illinois showed numerous purchases of
pseudoephedrine by Shafer during this period.

The offense carries with it a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of
$250,000.00, or both. Any term of imprisonment must be followed by a term of not more than three years of supervised release.

This investigation was conducted jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Illinois
State Police, the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. The
case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Carr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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