Murphysboro Woman Pleads Guilty To Methamphetamine Conspiracy

On January 31, 2014, Toni J. Johnson, 33, of Murphysboro, pled guilty to a one-count superseding indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

The offense occurred between 2009 and October 2013, in Union and Jackson Counties. The factual basis at Johnson’s plea hearing established that she was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Johnson stole anhydrous ammonia and collected pseudoephedrine pills from others to use during the manufacture of methamphetamine. After Johnson would manufacture the methamphetamine, she would provide some of the drugs to individuals that had provided her with pseudoephedrine pills. During a February 2013 search of Johnson’s Carbondale hotel room, agents located an oxygen tank containing anhydrous ammonia, along with other methamphetamine-making materials.

The methamphetamine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, Carbondale Police Department, and Union County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.

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