Union County Resident Sentenced For Methamphetamine Offense
EAST ST. LOUIS, IL - Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge, James P. Shroba announced today that Rusty J. Smith, 36, of Cobden, IL, was sentenced for a methamphetamine violation in the Southern District of Illinois.
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 Drug Enforcement Administration, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police Department, Carbondale Police Department, and the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team. The 19th Judicial District Drug Task (Tennessee) assisted in the investigation.
