Centralia Man David Herron, 47, Busted in Meth, Gun Sting

David Herron, 47, of Centralia, Illinois, is locked up and facing federal time after being arrested on charges tied to methamphetamine trafficking and illegal gun possession. The takedown, carried out by an FBI-led task force, alleges Herron was moving heavy-weight meth while armed — a deadly combo under federal law.

Herron is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Court documents show investigators conducted multiple undercover buys from Herron at two Centralia locations earlier this year, building the case before striking on April 24, 2019.

When agents moved in, they arrested Herron and searched the residence where he was staying. Inside, they seized a loaded firearm and a stash of suspected narcotics. Field tests confirmed the substance as methamphetamine — enough to trigger a mandatory minimum sentence if convicted. Authorities say Herron’s criminal record bars him from owning any weapon.

The consequences are severe: the meth charge alone carries 10 years to life in prison and at least five years of supervised release. But stacking on the gun charge — possession in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime — adds a mandatory five years to life, which must be served consecutively. No parole. No shortcuts.

Herron made his first court appearance on April 25 and is currently in custody awaiting a detention hearing scheduled for April 30. No bond has been set, and federal prosecutors are pushing to keep him locked up until trial.

The investigation was a joint push by the FBI and its task force partners: the Centralia Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Carlyle Police Department. The case underscores the federal crackdown on repeat offenders using firearms to protect their drug operations in southern Illinois communities.