ALTON, IL – Glenn P. Lowers, 25, of Alton, Illinois, will spend the next twelve years in federal prison for his role in the death of 21-year-old Joshua Shelton, who died from a heroin overdose in September 2013. Lowers was sentenced on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, to 144 months behind bars, a penalty handed down by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton.
The grim details reveal Lowers admitted to selling Shelton 1/10 of a gram of heroin for a mere $10 just hours before Shelton’s grandfather discovered his lifeless body. The transaction, a fleeting moment for profit, proved fatal for the young man. Shelton was found dead in his Alton home on September 4, 2013, the victim of a rapidly escalating opioid crisis gripping the nation.
Wigginton, speaking after the sentencing, framed the case as a key component of his ongoing “anti-heroin initiative,” launched upon taking office. “The sentence imposed today is another example of the anti-heroin initiative which I started when I took office,” Wigginton stated. “Our anti-heroin initiative is active and ongoing, and it will continue. We are trying to send a message to drug dealers out there that they risk a severe prison sentence every time they sell heroin, especially to a young person in the Southern District of Illinois.”
This isn’t just about punishment; it’s about deterrence, Wigginton implied. But for Shelton, and countless others lost to the grip of heroin, deterrence came too late. The sentence, while significant, offers little solace to a grieving family and a community struggling with addiction. Lowers will also be subject to three years of supervised release after completing his prison term, a small measure of control after a decade of freedom stolen from Shelton.
The investigation that led to Lowers’ conviction was spearheaded by the Alton, Illinois Police Department, highlighting the crucial role local law enforcement plays in battling the drug trade. Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison prosecuted the case, navigating the complexities of federal drug laws to secure the conviction. The case serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of heroin trafficking and the relentless pursuit of justice by federal and local authorities.
Grimy Times will continue to track this case and report on the ongoing opioid epidemic ravaging communities across the nation. The fight against heroin is far from over, and the names of those lost serve as a constant, heartbreaking reminder of the stakes involved. This sentencing, while a victory for justice, is merely one battle in a much larger, more devastating war.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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