A Johnston City man was sentenced to federal prison Monday for methamphetamine offenses.

U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce says 22-year-old Julian V. Rodriguez, who had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine, was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment, four years of supervised release, and was fined $400. The offenses occurred between December 2016 and January 23 of this year in Williamson County.

Evidence at the plea and sentence hearings established that Rodriguez was involved with co-defendant Johnathan Long and others in the distribution of ice and marijuana. Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80 percent.

On January 22, Rodriguez sold ice to a confidential source that was working for law enforcement. When agents executed a search warrant at the home of Rodriguez and Long in Johnston City, they recovered multiple firearms, over 200 grams of ice, cannabis and a large amount of U.S. currency.

At sentencing, the judge found that Rodriguez was responsible for the distribution of 1.13 kilograms of ice and 224.90 kilograms of marijuana.

Rodriguez received sentencing enhancements for possessing firearms and for maintaining a residence for the distribution of drugs. Co-defendant Long has pled guilty to his involvement in the methamphetamine and firearm offenses and is currently being held without bond pending a January 30, 2018, sentencing hearing.

The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Williamson County States Attorney’s Offices also assisted in the investigation.