Girard Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine and Possessing A Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Girard, Illinois man, Michael Pitman, 36, of the 2800 block of Pleasant Dale Road in Girard, Illinois has been sentenced on December 1, 2022, to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by 60 months of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence to U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough that on May 25, 2021, Parole Agents with the Illinois Department of Corrections were conducting a compliance check on Pitman’s residence when they discovered over 90 grams of methamphetamine and two firearms. One of the firearms was stolen and had been converted to fire fully automatically and the other firearm’s serial number had been scratched off. At the time of his arrest, Pitman was on parole for three separate state convictions.

Pitman was indicted in June of 2021 and pleaded guilty in July of 2022. He has remained in the custody of the United States Marshal since his arrest.

The statutory penalties for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) are up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release. The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime are a mandatory consecutive term of five years to life imprisonment; up to a $250,000 fine; and up to five years of supervised release.

“The important and often overlooked contributions made by Illinois Department of Corrections Parole Agents to make our communities safer needs to be publicly acknowledged,” said prosecuting Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir. “As this case shows, Parole Agents are an instrumental partner working with law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels to prevent crime.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.

The case against Pitman is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.