A Peoria man, Matthew T. Miller, 40, has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down on September 24, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm. Miller will also serve a five-year term of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Miller sold methamphetamine three times between June and September 2024, totaling 86.14 grams. In September 2024, during a traffic stop where Miller was a passenger, he refused officers’ orders to exit the vehicle and attempted to destroy what appeared to be a large quantity of methamphetamine by dumping it from baggies inside the car. Law enforcement took him into custody and found approximately 55.72 grams of methamphetamine (actual) and marijuana both in the vehicle and on Miller’s person.
The court held Miller accountable for distributing a total of 257.22 grams of substances containing methamphetamine, including 55.72 grams of actual methamphetamine and 20.35 grams of marijuana.
Judge Mihm determined that Miller qualified as a career offender due to previous drug-related convictions.
Miller was arrested in September 2024 and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty in January 2025 and has remained in custody since his arrest.
Federal law sets penalties for distributing more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine at ten years to life imprisonment, followed by at least five years of supervised release, along with possible fines up to $10 million.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Springfield Resident Office and the Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group (PMEG), with assistance from the Peoria Police Department and Bartonville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration among law enforcement agencies and community organizations.
