United States Drug Enforcement Administration

EAST ST. LOUIS, IL. - Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that on February 4, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, East St. Louis, Ill., Joshua McMurray , 32, of Lufkin, Texas, plead guilty to an indictment charging him in count 1 with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, and in each of counts 2 - 4 with distribution of methamphetamine.

The maximum statutory penalty as to count 1 is not less than 10 years imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $4 million, and a term of supervised release of at least five years. The maximum statutory penalty as to each of counts 2 - 4 is not less than five years imprisonment up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $2 million, and a term of supervised release of at least four years. Sentencing is scheduled for May 13, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.

According to the indictment and other court documents, the conspiracy operated in Madison County, Ill., and in the Eastern District of Texas from approximately October 20, 2009, through July 6, 2010. McMurray conspired with others to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. He mailed some of the finished product to a customer in Madison County, Ill. Several of the mailings were intercepted by law enforcement authorities during the course of the investigation.

This investigation into methamphetamine manufacturing activity was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Illinois State Police, and the Angelina County Texas Sheriff’s Department.