A Taylorville man was sentenced to over 7 years imprisonment followed by six years probation for distribution of meth.  40 year old Jamal Shehadeh of Taylorville, was sentenced to 92 months imprisonment for arranging to sell meth to a confidential source.  Shehadeh was previously found guilty by a federal jury following a two-day trial in October 2022.  During the trial, the government presented evidence that on March 3rd, 2021 Shehadeh accepted payment for the methamphetamine electronically and later called 9-1-1 in an attempt to distract law enforcement by reporting an emergency.  Shehadeh then went to a residence, met with the source, and sold the source meth. 

At sentencing, Judge Sara Darrow found that a sentencing guideline enhancement by obstruction of justice applied due to Shehadeh’s testimony at trial, which was rejected by the jury.  Judge Darrow also stated that Shehadeh has a high risk of repeated criminal conduct and reoffending. This is Shehadeh’s third federal criminal conviction.  At the time he sold meth, 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 previous 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.  TPD investigated the case.  AUSA Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.