BENTON — On June 27, 2016, Paula L. Summers, 61, of Percy, was sentenced for methamphetamine and heroin offenses, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, James L. Porter, announced today.

Summers, who had previously pleaded guilty to two-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute heroin, was sentenced to 109 months in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and fined $400.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Summers was involved with others in distributing both heroin and methamphetamine, in the form of “ice.” Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80%. Summers and others made multiple trips to St. Louis to obtain dealer amounts of heroin. Summers also distributed large amounts of ice and heroin from her Percy residence.

At sentencing, the judge found that Summers was responsible for the distribution of over 450 grams of ice and 27 grams of heroin. The offenses occurred between 2013 and June 2015, in Perry, Jackson, and Randolph Counties. Seven co-defendants have previously been sentenced for their role in the drug conspiracies.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Drug Task Force, Percy Police Department, Steeleville Police Department, Mascoutah Police Department, Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, DuQuoin Police Department, Pinckneyville Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Randolph and Perry County State’s Attorney’s Offices also assisted in the investigation.