On July 16, 2015, four Perry County residents pled guilty to methamphetamine offenses, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Skyler A. Elder, 25, Joseph D. Smith, 41, Jamie L. Smith, 34, and Herman E. Sims, Jr., 35, all of Pinckneyville, pled guilty to the offense of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The Smiths also pled guilty to one count of possession of pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the offenses occurred between 2012 and December 2014, in Perry, Jackson, and Randolph Franklin Counties. The Smiths were allowed to remain on bond, pending their Nov. 17, 2015, sentencing hearings. Elder and Sims are currently being held without bond, pending their sentencing hearings, which are set for Nov. 17, 2015, and Nov. 3, 2015, respectively. Co-defendant Jamie Trzinski has previously pled guilty to her role in the methamphetamine offenses and is scheduled for a Sept. 15, 2015, sentencing hearing.
The methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release. The methamphetamine offense carries a fine of up to $1,000,000 fine, while the pseudoephedrine offense carries a fine of up to $250,000.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Drug Task Force, Murphysboro Police Department, and DuQuoin Police Department. The Pinckneyville Police Department and Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team assisted in the investigation.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
