EAST ST. LOUIS — A 48-year-old Centralia man pleaded guilty Thursday to an 11-count federal indictment charging him with the production and distribution of methamphetamine in Clinton and Marion Counties.

James Perry Horton pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine from February 28, 2014, through October 1, 2014 in Clinton and Marion Counties (Count 1), and Possession of a Listed Chemical (Pseudoephedrine) Knowing or Having Reason to Know that It Would Be Used to Manufacture Methamphetamine (Count 11).

According to Stephen R. Wigginton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Count 1 carries a maximum penalty of not less than 5 years, but up to 40 years in federal prison, a $5 million fine, and at least 4 years’ supervised release.

Count 11 carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and not less than 3 years’ supervised release. Both counts require an assessment of $100. There is no parole in the federal system.

Information leading to the charges was obtained in an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, and the Centralia Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.