CARLYLE - A Carlyle man who admitted to operating a drug house across the street from a park has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, according to court records and statements from prosecutors and investigators.
John E. Kock, 52, was sentenced by a district judge in Benton, Illinois, after pleading guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. The case involves a residence in the 1600 block of Livingston Street in Carlyle, where court documents say Kock allowed others staying at his home to use and distribute methamphetamine between March 2020 and October 2023. After his prison term, Kock will serve three years of supervised release.
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“Operating a drug house steps away from a park puts families and children at risk,” U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting cases with a strong community impact in neighborhoods of all sizes, and we will hold offenders accountable.”
According to court documents, law enforcement conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from people living in the home and executed search warrants that recovered drug paraphernalia.
“Community safety is a top priority for this office. Sentences like this one show that we will hold accountable anyone who turns their home into a hub for illegal drug activity and threaten the safety of hardworking families," said FBI-Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge Ruben Marchand-Morales. "Our work doesn't stop here; we remain committed to continuing working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and disrupt drug trafficking, reduce violent crime, and ensure that every neighborhood is a safer place to live, work, and raise a family."
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Springfield Field Office, TOC-West Task Force and the Carlyle Police Department, with assistance from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson prosecuted the case.
