Centralia Man Sentenced To 84 Months For Conspiracy To Manufacture Methamphetamine

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that BRIAN LEE FEAR, 40, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced on September 18, 2015, to 84 months’ imprisonment, 4 years’ supervised release, a $500 fine and a $300 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system. Sentencing followed Fear’s May 27, 2015, guilty plea to Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Equipment, Chemicals, Products and Materials with Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine, and Possession of Pseudoephedrine with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine. The offenses are in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act.

According to court documents, from approximately December 2012, to February 21, 2014, in Marion, Clinton and Jefferson Counties, Fear and others worked together to manufacture methamphetamine to support their drug habits and to make extra cash. Fear produced methamphetamine using the "one-pot" or "shake and bake" method, and used as many as 30 people to obtain pills containing pseudoephedrine for use in the production process.

Information leading to the conviction of Brian Fear 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 Methamphetamine Response Team, and the Centralia Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.