EAST ST. LOUIS — A 35-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison after he earlier pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple meth-related charges.

(Credit: Nomadsoul1)
(Credit: Nomadsoul1)

According to James L. Porter, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Joseph Lee Smith pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and possession of pseudeophedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

According to court documents, from approximately December 2012 to February 21, 2014, a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine was operating in Clinton, Jefferson and Marion counties. Smith participated in the conspiracy by providing pills containing pseudoephedrine to his co-conspirators in exchange for cash or drugs, knowing the pills would be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Smith was sentenced today to 3-years in federal prison, to be followed by 4-years supervised release and he was assessed $700 in fines and special assessments.

Information leading to the arrest and conviction of Smith 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 Meth Response Team, and the Centralia Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kit Morrissey.