U.S. DISTRICT COURT, BENTON—On February 4, 2014, Heather L. Richey, 38, and Leeann M. Simmerman, 20, both of Carbondale, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
The offense occurred between 2010 and January 2014, in Jackson, Williamson, Union, and Franklin counties.
The two co-defendants made their initial appearances in federal court on March 25, 2014. They are currently being held without bond pending a March 28, 2014, detention hearing.
The methamphetamine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Carbondale Police Department, Illinois State Police/Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.