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Carbondale man pleads guilty to drug conspiracy charge

BY THE SOUTHERN

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 5:01 PM CDT

A Carbondale man has pleaded guilty to federal charges including conspiracy to distribute mari-juana.

Kerry L. Smith, 37, also pleaded guilty Monday to engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction, concealment of material information from the Social Security Administration and two counts of making a false statement, according to a news release issued Tuesday by Courtney Cox, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

The crimes took place between May 2001 and March 2007 in Jackson County, the prosecutor said.

The marijuana conspiracy charge carries a penalty of five to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million. The unlawful transaction charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The charges of concealment of information from the Social Security Administration and making false statements each carry penalties of not more than five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Smith’s plea also includes provisions for forfeiture of multiple residences, vehicles, cash and certain personal property, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The case was investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Murphysboro Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Drug Enforcement Admini-stration.

Also participating were the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and Carbondale Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.