Illinois Attorney General Madigan Announces Sentencing Of Coles County Man On Meth Charge

June 5, 2007 -- Chicago ─ Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today said that a Coles County man was recently sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) after his guilty plea to Class X methamphetamine conspiracy.

Jeff Mingus of Mattoon was sentenced May 23 in Coles County Circuit Court where he also was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay other costs associated with the conviction.

Mingus was arrested in January for his role in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine that stretched across three central Illinois counties including Champaign, Coles and Macon in 2006. Local and area law enforcement involved in the investigation say that Mingus and at least five other people bought pseudoephedrine pills and obtained anhydrous ammonia to manufacture meth. Others identified as part of the conspiracy have been convicted or are awaiting trial. The investigation revealed that more than 500 grams of meth were cooked using ingredients obtained by Mingus and others.

Madigan’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau brought the charges against Mingus. Cooperating agencies in the investigation included the East Central Illinois Drug Task Force, Zone 5 Meth Response Team, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office, Coles County State’s Attorney’s Office, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Oak Lawn Police Department.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Hoppock prosecuted the case for Madigan’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau.

Source: Illinois Attorney General