Union County Resident Sentenced For Methamphetamine Offense

On February 25, 2015, Rusty J. Smith, 36, of Cobden, IL, was sentenced for a methamphetamine violation, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

Smith, who had previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, was sentenced to 125 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and fined $200.00. The offense occurred between 2012 and March 2014, in Union, Williamson, and Jackson Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Smith was involved with co-defendants Ruth Diane Wiseman, Jonathan E. Merydith and others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. At sentencing, the district court determined that Smith was responsible for the possession of more than 290 grams of pseudoephedrine. Co-defendants Wiseman and Merydith were previously sentenced to prison terms of 18 months and 60 months, respectively, for their role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. Co-defendant Shannon Connett has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police Department, Carbondale Police Department, Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team and Drug Enforcement Administration. The 19th Judicial District Drug Task Force (Tennessee) assisted in the investigation.

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