United States Drug Enforcement Administration

EAST ST. LOUIS, IL. - Stephen R. Wigginton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that a Lufkin, Texas, man, Joshua L. McMurray, 32, convicted of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute (Count 1), and Distribution of (Counts 2 -4), was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on May 18, 2011. Following service of the sentence, McMurray will serve five years’ supervised release. McMurray was also fined $200 and ordered to pay a $400 special assessment. McMurray pleaded guilty to the charges on February 4, 2011. McMurray has been in custody since his arrest on the charges.

“This should be a warning to dealers like McMurray: Do Not send your poison into the Southern District of Illinois.” said United States Attorney Wigginton.

According to the Indictment and other court documents, the conspiracy operated in Madison County, Illinois, 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, Illinois. 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.