Arizona man who used two Quincy women as drug couriers sentenced to 15 years in prison for meth distribution – Muddy River News

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – Christopher Harris, 44, of Goodyear, Arizona, was sentenced Thursday, Sept. 19, to 180 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in central Illinois.

At sentencing before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government presented evidence that Harris recruited two women in Quincy as drug couriers in January 2017. In return, Harris agreed to pay them $5,000.

As part of the agreement, the two women drove to Arizona and picked up controlled substances from Harris. They then planned to drive the drugs back to Quincy, where Harris would pick up the drugs from them after flying from Arizona to Illinois. Ultimately, Harris delivered them 11 pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of cocaine. However, the couple was arrested while still in Arizona.

Judge Lawless concluded that Harris was the ringleader of the conspiracy and that he was a career criminal due to his criminal past, which included three previous drug convictions.

Trafficking in methamphetamine carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10 million, and life probation.

This case was investigated by the West Central Illinois Task Force, Illinois State Police, Quincy Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Apache County (Arizona) Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.