A Bloomington couple's home-based drug distribution scheme has come to an abrupt end with stiff sentences handed down by the federal court. Wesley Noonan, 50, and his wife Christina Noonan, 44, were sentenced on May 8 for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute a lethal synthetic opioid, para-Fluorofentanyl, officials said.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois, Christina was given a 70-month sentence, while Wesley, deemed the lesser involved party, received 48 months. Both will also face supervised release following their prison stint, with Christina for three years and Wesley for five years.
The couple's illicit enterprise came to light when authorities executed a search warrant at their residence on April 6, 2022. Investigations revealed the Noonans had been distributing drugs through the United States Postal Service, reaching all 50 states. Their shipments, coordinated via a phone app with an overseas supplier, included more than 1,750 parcels of pills, concluded to be controlled substances like Adderall and Lorazepam.
However, pills marketed as Adderall, seized in the raid, turned out to be para-Fluorofentanyl, a deadly fentanyl analogue. "This case demonstrates how illegal drug distribution is ever evolving and how law enforcement will use all available tools to counter it," Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna explained. The Noonans managed to mail over 250,000 such pills before being apprehended.
The seriousness of the Noonan's actions is underscored by the DEA's "One Pill Can Kill" campaign, highlighting the risks of taking pills that appear safe but contain dangerous substances. The couple was originally charged in July 2022, and both pleaded guilty last year—Christina in August and Wesley in November. They were fortunate to qualify for the "safety valve," avoiding the mandatory minimum sentence for their crimes.
Several agencies collaborated on the case, including the DEA Diversion Unit, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Illinois State Police. The government's case was presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna, who emphasized the evolving nature of drug trafficking and the dedicated efforts of law enforcement to tackle it.
