A federal jury in Benton, Illinois, has found Kevin D. Stewart, 59, of Edwardsville guilty on two counts related to methamphetamine distribution in Franklin and Perry counties. Stewart was convicted of conspiracy to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of the drug.
Elizabeth J. Schwartzkopf, 43, a co-defendant from Pinckneyville, had previously pleaded guilty to similar charges in September and received a 48-month prison sentence this past Wednesday.
“The collaboration between the ISP and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is essential in dismantling drug trafficking networks,” stated ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “By combining investigative expertise with prosecutorial power, this partnership delivers justice more effectively, disrupting criminal operations and protecting the well-being of our communities.”
The case stems from a traffic stop conducted by Illinois State Police officers in March 2024. During the stop, officers discovered 312 grams of methamphetamine, 924 grams of homemade THC gummies, and a scale inside a vehicle driven by Schwartzkopf with Stewart as a passenger.
Stewart is scheduled for sentencing at 9:30 a.m. on September 16, 2025, at the federal courthouse in Benton. The charge for possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of meth carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years.
The investigation was led by the Illinois State Police Drug Task Force with Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Sanders and Tom Leggans handling prosecution duties.
