Eric J. Simpson Gets 78 Months for Crack Sales, Threats

Eric J. Simpson, 48, of Sauget, Illinois, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison on November 17, 2016, after selling nearly 80 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant in a series of monitored deals. The Southern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney, Donald S. Boyce, confirmed the sentence, which also includes a $1,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and three years of supervised release.

Between mid-February and mid-March 2015, Simpson met with the informant six times, peddling crack while openly discussing firearms, according to court records. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) built the case through recordings and surveillance, culminating in a federal search warrant executed at Simpson’s home. There, they seized loaded firearms, ammunition, and additional drugs—evidence that deepened the severity of the charges.

After being released from custody on March 14, 2015, Simpson didn’t walk free quietly. He immediately threatened the confidential informant, endangering a key witness and triggering federal scrutiny of his conduct beyond the drug charges. The threat marked the start of a pattern of retaliation and obstruction that would later cost him dearly in court.

In the months leading up to sentencing, Simpson filed a barrage of frivolous motions rooted in ‘sovereign citizen’ ideology—baseless claims that the court lacked jurisdiction over him. He cycled through three court-appointed attorneys, refused to cooperate, and sent harassing communications to both the prosecutor and the presiding judge. His actions forced repeated delays and ultimately led to the revocation of his bond on September 7, 2016.

At sentencing, the court made no apologies for holding Simpson accountable for his obstructive behavior. The judge rejected his request for acceptance of responsibility and applied a sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice, citing false accusations against his lawyers and the mailing of threatening, harassing letters to court personnel. The conduct, the court ruled, was deliberate and disruptive.

The investigation was led by ATF agents, with Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft handling prosecution. Simpson’s case stands as a stark example of how criminal behavior—coupled with outright defiance of the judicial system—draws maximum consequences under federal law.