Peoria Heights Woman Sentenced to 136 months in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

PEORIA, Ill. - A Peoria Heights, Illinois, woman, Nicole M. Sutton,40, of the 2000 block of East Cardinal Court, was sentenced on October 28, 2021, to 136 months for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, to be followed by four years of supervised release.

Following Sutton's arrest on September 9, 2020, she has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. She pleaded guilty on June 24, 2021.

At Sutton's sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James Shadid found Sutton was responsible for distributing at least 1,300 grams of highly pure methamphetamine. Judge Shadid stated that Sutton had a lengthy criminal history but also battled drug addiction most of her adult life. Judge Shadid also noted that Sutton had several failed attempts at probation and drug treatment, including Tazewell County Drug Court. The government's evidence at sentencing included Sutton's statements to police that the most she had ever purchased in one transaction from her dealer was three pounds of ice methamphetamine.

"The message is clear: if you choose to deal highly-addictive, community-wrecking drugs to others, you will be held accountable," said Acting U.S. Attorney Douglas J. Quivey. "Our office commends the Drug Enforcement Administration's dedication and perseverance in working with Peoria Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group and the Pekin Police Department to target drug dealers in the greater Peoria area."

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Peoria Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group, and Pekin Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.

The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in this case were up to 40 years of imprisonment, $5,000,000 in fines, and not less than four years supervised release.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)'s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.