Illinois-Arizona Meth Ring Lands Duo in Federal Prison

Lawrenceville, IL – Two men are facing decades behind bars after a federal court handed down sentences in a methamphetamine trafficking case that stretched across three Illinois counties. Kelly W. Cessna, 47, of Bridgeport, IL, and Lorenzo M. Molina, 50, of Phoenix, Arizona, were convicted as part of a larger drug ring busted by local and federal authorities.

Cessna received a staggering 200 months – sixteen years and eight months – of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Molina wasn’t far behind, sentenced to 135 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Both men previously pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a federal indictment. The sentences, announced by U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce for the Southern District of Illinois, send a clear message: large-scale drug trafficking won’t be tolerated.

The indictment revealed a conspiracy that ran from November 2015 to June 18, 2016. Cessna, Molina, and a third defendant, Kedly G. Newlin, 57, of Lawrenceville, IL, allegedly conspired to distribute methamphetamine throughout Crawford, Lawrence, and Richland Counties. Authorities determined the conspiracy involved at least fifty grams of “Ice” – crystal methamphetamine – a significant quantity indicating a large-scale operation.

Specific charges outlined the pair’s direct involvement. Molina was found guilty of knowingly distributing methamphetamine in mid-to-late May 2016 in Richland County. Meanwhile, on June 9, 2016, Cessna was convicted of possessing methamphetamine with the explicit intent to distribute it within Lawrence County. The evidence painted a picture of a calculated effort to flood the region with the dangerous drug.

This isn’t the first sentence handed down in this case. Co-defendant Newlin previously received a 235-month prison sentence, indicating his role as potentially central to the operation. While the details of Newlin’s involvement haven’t been fully detailed, the length of his sentence suggests a significant contribution to the conspiracy.

The investigation, a collaborative effort, involved multiple law enforcement agencies including the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Robinson, Illinois Police Department, Bridgeport, Illinois Police Department, Lawrenceville County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security. The combined resources of these agencies were crucial in dismantling the drug ring and bringing these individuals to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.