Taylorville, Illinois, Man Sentenced to Forty-Eight Months in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Taylorville, Illinois, man, Daniel S. Ward, 54, of the 1300 block of S. Cardinal Street, was sentenced on February 10, 2022, to 48 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for knowingly possessing 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute.

Ward was indicted in March 2020 and pleaded guilty in June 2021.

The statutory penalties for possession of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute are a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment to a maximum of life imprisonment, a minimum five-year to a maximum life term of supervised release, and up to a $10,000,000 fine. Ward was eligible for a lower sentence because he was sentenced pursuant to the “safety-valve” provision of 18 U.S.C. §3553(f).

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police Central Illinois Enforcement Group, Taylorville Police Department, and Christian County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass represented the government in the prosecution.