Five area people plead guilty in federal court to meth-related charges

BENTON — Five Southern Illinoisan residents pleaded guilty to methamphetamine-related charges and another was sentenced this month in U.S. District Court in Benton.

  • Rachel S. Holt, 40, Sparta, for conspiring to manufacture meth and for possessing pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used for meth manufacturing. Evidence showed Holt worked with others in manufacturing meth between 2009 and 2013 in Jackson, Randolph and St. Clair counties. Holt is being held without bond pending a Jan. 30 sentencing, at which she faces five to 40 years in prison and a fine up to $5 million.
  • Virgil L. Easton, 35, of Cutler, pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture meth between January 2011 and January 2013 in Perry, Jackson and Randolph counties. During the conspiracy, Easton obtained and provided pseudoephedrine to others for use in the meth manufacturing. Easton is being held without bond pending a Jan. 30 sentencing. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
  • Brian W. Davis, 31, of De Soto, pleaded guilty meth manufacturing between June 2012 and Nov. 1, 2012, in Jackson and Union counties. Davis is being held without bond pending a Jan. 30 sentencing and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
  • Donald Gregory, 47, of Murphysboro, and Daniel Loden, 30, of Grand Tower, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture meth between March 2011 and March 2013 in Jackson County. Gregory is facing five to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Loden is facing up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The two men are being held without bond pending their January sentencing hearings.
  • Michael A. Lovell, 35, of Shawneetown, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for conspiring to manufacture meth, possession of meth-making materials and being a felon in possession of ammunition between August 2010 and Aug. 7, 2012, in Saline and Johnson counties. He was fined $600.
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