Taylorville Man Sentenced to 92 Months in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A Taylorville, Illinois, man, Jamal Shehadeh, 40, was sentenced today to 92 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine.

Shehadeh was previously found guilty by a federal jury following a two-day trial in October 2022. At the trial, the government presented evidence that on March 3, 2021, Shehadeh arranged to sell a confidential source methamphetamine. Shehadeh accepted payment for the methamphetamine electronically and later called 911 to report an emergency in attempt to distract law enforcement. Shehadeh then went to a residence, met with the source, and sold the source methamphetamine.

At the sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow found that a sentencing guideline enhancement for obstruction of justice applied due to Shehadeh's fanciful testimony at trial, which was rejected by the jury. In imposing the 92-month sentence, Judge Darrow also noted Shehadeh's high risk of recidivism and pattern of repeated criminal conduct, explaining in part that the instant case represented his third federal criminal conviction. At the time Shehadeh sold methamphetamine in this case, he was already serving a term of supervised release for a previous federal drug trafficking charge. Judge Darrow revoked that term of supervision and sentenced Shehadeh to a consecutive 30-month term of imprisonment for his supervised release violations.

The statutory penalties for the offense of distribution of methamphetamine are up to 30 years' imprisonment, at least six years of supervised release, and up to a $2,000,000 fine.

The Taylorville Police Department investigated the case. AUSA Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.