Randolph County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Offense

On October 18, 2017, Justin M. Rice, 27, Sparta, was sentenced to federal prison for a methamphetamine offense, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.

Rice, who had previously pled guilty to a one-count superseding indictment charging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and was fined $200.00. The superseding indictment alleges that the methamphetamine offense occurred between 2014 and September 2016, in Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, and Franklin Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Rice was involved with numerous other persons in the distribution of ice in southern Illinois. Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80%. At sentencing, the district court found that Rice was responsible for the distribution of 137 grams of ice. Rice received a sentence enhancement based on his possession of a firearm. Co-defendants Bradley M.D. Miller and Taylor C. Robertson were previously sentenced to prison terms of 169 months and 57 months, respectively, for their roles in the ice conspiracy. Two additional co-defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. One co-defendant has pled not guilty and is being held without bond pending an October 26, 2017, change of plea hearing.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Percy Police Department, Steeleville Police Department, Illinois State Police, Sparta Police Department and Southern Illinois Drug Task Force. The Randolph County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.