Defendant Sentenced to 135 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine

PEORIA, Ill. – Darrell J. Lindsey, 44, formerly of Peoria, Illinois, was sentenced on August 6, 2026, to 135 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, law enforcement began an investigation into Lindsey’s methamphetamine trafficking in August 2020. That same month, law enforcement seized approximately 52 grams of methamphetamine and multiple firearms and ammunition while executing a search warrant on Lindsey’s residence in Peoria. While Lindsey was out of state, he also shipped methamphetamine to individuals in Peoria. Additionally, Lindsey was implicated in the March 2021 seizure of approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine from a Morton, Illinois, hotel room. In total, between August 2020 and May 2021, Lindsey was accountable for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a total of 69,281 kilograms of converted drug weight, which included 145.5 grams of methamphetamine and 3,449.5 grams of methamphetamine (actual). In sentencing Lindsey, U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley determined that a sentencing enhancement for possession of a firearm during the commission of the offense applied. A federal indictment against Lindsey was filed in March 2024 and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was arrested in the state of Washington on unrelated state charges in April 2024 and was returned to the state of Illinois for federal prosecution. Lindsey entered into a written plea agreement in January 2026. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service since his arrest. The statutory penalties for conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) is 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by at least five years of supervised release. A fine of up to 10 million dollars is also possible. The Drug Enforcement Administration, assisted by the Peoria, Morton, Pekin (Illinois), Bloomington (Illinois), and Aberdeen (Washington) police departments, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Lindsey is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.