United States Drug Enforcement Administration

EAST ST. LOUIS, IL - Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge, James P. Shroba announced today that Harold Lawayne Barron, a/k/a “Wayne,” 51, of Murphysboro, Ill., was sentenced for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy and a crack cocaine conspiracy.

Barron, who had previously pled guilty to the two-count indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, was sentenced to 156 months in prison, 3 years’ supervised release, and was fined $400.

It was established that Barron was involved with Jamie Kay Kelly, a/k/a “Jamie K.” and others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine offense occurred between August 2012, and October 2013, in Jackson and Perry Counties. Barron was involved with Kelly and Maurice L. Robinson, a/k/a “Ray Ray,” and others in the distribution of crack cocaine. The crack cocaine offense occurred between May 2013, and September 2013, in Jackson County.

At sentencing, the district court found that Barron’s offenses involved at least 177 grams of pseudoephedrine and 64 grams of crack cocaine. Kelly and Robinson were previously sentenced to imprisonment terms of 84 months and 87 months, respectively, for their roles in the drug offenses.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Murphysboro Police Department, and the Illinois State Police.