EVANSVILLE – James Shultz, 37, of Louisville, Ky., was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On Jan. 5, 2021, codefendant Sheena Garrett, 35, of Henderson, Ky., was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, from Jan. through Sept. 2018, Shultz and Garrett conspired to distribute more than 4.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Shultz regularly supplied three to six pounds of methamphetamine at a time to Garrett, who distributed the methamphetamine in Evansville, Henderson, and surrounding areas.
On Sept. 1, 2018, Shultz was driving on I-69 in Vanderburgh County when he was stopped by law enforcement officers following a traffic violation. Officers searched the vehicle after a drug detection dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. Officers seized approximately 1,425 grams of methamphetamine and a large amount of U.S. currency from the vehicle. In his guilty plea, Shultz admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to Garrett for further distribution.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office; and the Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force (EVCDTF) made the announcement.
DEA and the EVCJDF investigated the case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young following the defendants’ guilty pleas. As part of the sentences, Judge Young ordered that Shultz and Garrett each be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years, following their release from prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley who prosecuted this case.