Williamson County Man Sentenced On Methamphetamine Conspiracy

On April 17, 2013, Terry C. Zimmerman, 36, of Marion, Ill., was sentenced in United States District Court in Benton on a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

Zimmerman, who had previously pled guilty to the methamphetamine charge, was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment, 10 years’ supervised release, and was fined $200. The conspiracy offense occurred between 2008, and January 30, 2012, in Williamson, Jackson, Saline, and Franklin Counties. At sentencing, the district judge found that Zimmerman was responsible for the manufacture of more than one kilogram of methamphetamine. The district judge further found that Zimmerman’s conduct created a substantial risk of harm to human life, when Zimmerman drove recklessly through a residential neighborhood and crashed into a Mt. Vernon police car while Zimmerman had an active methamphetamine lab in his vehicle. Zimmerman’s sentence was also enhanced because he had a prior felony state drug conviction. Six co-defendants have previously been sentenced for their role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. One co-defendant has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Murphysboro Police Department, Marion Police Department, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Carrier Mills Police Department, Harrisburg Police Department, and United States Marshals Service.

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