MARION COUNTY, IL — A 45-year-old Alma man pleaded guilty Tuesday in East St. Louis Federal Court to all counts from an indictment charging him with drug and weapons charges. John M. Doyle appeared via Zoom Tuesday where he confirmed he had rejected a plea offer from the prosecution and instead wished to plead guilty to all five counts of the superseding indictment against him.

Doyle was indicted on four counts Distribution of a Controlled Substance Containing Methamphetamine and one count Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Doyle was arrested in October of 2020 at his home in the 4500 block of Kinoka Road following a months long investigation led by the South Eastern Illinois Drug Task Force agents who used confidential buyers to purchase large quantities of meth. Agents of the drug task force, assisted by the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department took Doyle into custody and executed a search warrant of Doyle’s residence locating additional controlled substances, ammunition, and a firearm. A jury trial in the case was originally scheduled for October 18th. It’s now scheduled for a January 25th sentencing.

Judge Staci Yandle advised Doyle Tuesday that each of the four distribution charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and the firearms charge is punishable by up to 10 years.