PEORIA, Ill. – Joshua A. Ward, 35, of East Peoria, Illinois, is headed to federal prison for fifteen years after admitting to flooding the streets with highly potent methamphetamine. Ward received the sentence on November 18, 2021, from U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid, and will also face ten years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. The case underscores the continued federal crackdown on methamphetamine distribution networks operating within the state.
Ward pleaded guilty on March 25, 2021, to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Court records reveal that between July and September 2020, Ward actively peddled the dangerous drug to multiple individuals. When authorities executed his arrest in September 2020, they discovered a stash of “ice” methamphetamine – a particularly pure and dangerous form of the drug – already packaged for resale. Digital scales used for weighing the narcotics were also seized, solidifying the evidence of a large-scale operation.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Shadid acknowledged Ward’s difficult upbringing but emphasized that his repeated criminal behavior ultimately led him to this outcome. The judge’s remarks highlight a familiar narrative in these cases: while acknowledging the challenges faced by defendants, accountability for criminal actions remains paramount. This isn’t a sob story; it’s a consequence.
“Our ongoing focus to disrupt and deter ice methamphetamine dealers is working,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Douglas J. Quivey. “This case is an excellent example of how the Drug Enforcement Administration can enhance the efforts of our state and local departments to target those at the top.” The sentiment points to a coordinated effort to dismantle drug trafficking organizations, rather than simply arresting street-level users.
Ward has been held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his September 2020 arrest. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pekin Police Department, with crucial assistance from the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police’s West Central Illinois Task Force, and the Peoria Multi-County Enforcement Group. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Legge successfully prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This prosecution was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, a program originating locally from the Pekin Police Department. The initiative is designed to target high-level drug trafficking networks through a coordinated, multi-agency approach. OCDETF aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most dangerous criminal organizations threatening the United States. More information on the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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