Centralia Man Sentenced For Meth Conspiracy

James L. Porter, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Joseph Lee Smith, 35, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, a $500 fine and a $200 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system. Sentencing followed Smith’s September 15, 2015, guilty plea to Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession of Pseudoephedrine Knowing It Would Be Used to Manufacture Methamphetamine.

According to court documents, from approximately December 2012, to February 21, 2014, a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine was operating in Marion, Clinton and Jefferson Counties. Smith participated in the conspiracy by providing pills containing pseudoephedrine to his co-conspirators in exchange for cash or drugs, knowing the pills would be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Information leading to the conviction of Smith was obtained in an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, and the Centralia Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.