Matthew Morlee, a 46-year-old resident of Springfield, Illinois, received a 60-month and one-day prison sentence from Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough. This sentencing comes in response to Morlee's involvement in manufacturing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a drug-related offense.
Morlee's legal troubles began in September 2018 when he was indicted, eventually pleading guilty in May 2023. Following an initial release on bond, Morlee's bond was revoked, leading to his detention in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
The penalties for Morlee's actions are severe. Manufacturing methamphetamine carries a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a life term of supervised release. Possessing a firearm during a drug crime can result in up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release.
This case was part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, a collaborative effort involving various law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Illinois State Police, Springfield Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chatham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in this prosecution.
Morlee's case is linked to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by strengthening community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.