Murphysboro Resident Sentenced for Crack cocaine and Firearm Offenses

On August 20, 2015, Martell L. Brown-Wright, a/k/a "Low Key," 29, of Murphysboro, was sentenced in federal court in Benton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

Brown-Wright, who had previously pled guilty to a four-count indictment charging distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility (2 counts); possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking, was sentenced to a total term of 123 months in federal prison, to be followed by 6 years of supervised release, and fined $500.00. The offenses occurred on September 4-5, 2014, at the New Horizons Housing Complex, in Murphysboro, Jackson County. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Brown-Wright sold crack cocaine to a confidential source working for law enforcement. When agents executed a search warrant at the New Horizons apartment where the drug sales had occurred, they located firearms, crack cocaine, a large amount of U.S. Currency, ammunition, and drug packaging materials. Young children were residing at the apartment containing the drugs and firearms. At sentencing, the district court also ordered the forfeiture of a Taurus, model PT-22, .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a Jennings, model J22, .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol, along with assorted ammunition.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Murphysboro Police Department. The Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.

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