BENTON, IL — A 34-year-old Centralia man was sentenced Tuesday morning in federal court in Benton to a dozen years in prison after he had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Jacob Williamson filed an open plea of guilty in November to a one-count indictment charging him with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

He was sentenced Tuesday to 144 months in federal prison to be followed by 5-years federal parole.

Centralia police arrested Williamson in April 2020 after he sped away from an attempted traffic stop near the Fairview Shopping Center.

The vehicle pursuit ended at Fourth and Beech where Williamson reportedly exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

He was quickly apprehended but not before he threw a package containing one pound of meth into the backyard of a home.

Investigators ultimately found $6,000 cash and an additional 2.5 ounces of meth and packaging materials in the vehicle, along with a small amount of heroin.