RANDOLPH CO., Ill. - On July 18, 2018, two Randolph County residents were indicted for a methamphetamine offense, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today.
Lewis D. Higgins, 54, and David Bereitschaft, 39, both of Tilden, were charged in a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between 2016 and June 2018, in Perry and Randolph Counties.
Higgins and Bereitschaft made their initial appearances in federal court on August 2, 2018. They were ordered held without bond pending an October 1, 2018, jury trial. The conspiracy offense carries a maximum penalty of 5-40 years of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Sparta Police Department, Tilden Police Department, Marissa Police Department, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Drug Tactical Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Randolph County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.