Alton Blue, Distribution of Methamphetamine, Illinois 2026
A Peoria man, Alton Blue, 38, has been handed a lengthy sentence for his role in distributing methamphetamine in the Central District of Illinois.
According to a federal indictment, Blue was identified as a supplier of methamphetamine and participated in multiple drug sales, distributing at least 1,286.29 grams of the illicit substance.
Blue was arrested on May 15, 2025, after ATF agents became aware of his involvement in the distribution of illicit substances in the region. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against him in June 2025, and he pleaded guilty to both counts in January 2026.
The statutory penalties for distribution of methamphetamine are not less than ten years and up to life imprisonment, not more than a $10 million dollar fine, and a minimum five-year to a maximum life term of supervised release. However, Blue was eligible for a lower sentence because he was sentenced pursuant to the “safety-valve” provision of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f).
On May 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley handed down the sentence, which includes 36 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Blue's involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine was investigated by the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, a collaborative effort between agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Peoria Police Department, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois Department of Corrections, and the Illinois State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution, which is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities across the country.
Blue's sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of engaging in drug trafficking activities, and the efforts of law enforcement agencies to bring those responsible to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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