Randolph County Man Sentenced On Methamphetamine Conspiracy

On September 26, 2013, Joshua D. Kennedy, 22, of Chester, Ill., was sentenced in United States District Court in Benton on a one-count second superseding indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

Kennedy, who had previously pled guilty to the methamphetamine offense, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and fined $300. The offense occurred between January 2011, and January 2013, in Perry, Jackson, and Randolph Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Kennedy was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. During the conspiracy, Kennedy obtained over 95 grams of pseudoephedrine for use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Others also provided Kennedy with pseudoephedrine pills to use to cook methamphetamine. Eight co-defendants have previously been sentenced for their role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. Five co-defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Percy Police Department, Murphysboro Police Department, Sparta Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.