From left, Herrin Police Chief Stu Ridings, ISP Lt. Bill Sons, Herrin Mayor Steve Frattini, Brandon Zanotti, Marion Mayor Robert Butler, Marion Police Chief Dawn Tondini and Williamson County Sherrif Bennie Vick
WILLIAMSON CO., Ill.—Williamson County State’s Attorney Brandon Zanotti held a press conference today (December 22, 2014) at the Williamson County Sheriff’s office.
The subject of the press conference was to inform the public that on Friday, December 19, a grand jury convened and was presented with 19 cases of criminal felony drug cases from Class 4 to Class X. Zanotti stated there was a wide range of charges, including Possession of Meth, Delivery of Cannabis, Cocaine, Heroin and prescription drugs. These are from November 2013 to November 2014.
The grand jury was handed 19 individual indictments and warrants were issued. Eight of those individuals are in custody. No names are being released at this time since not all those indicted have been apprehended. The ages of those indicted range between 23 and 50 years old.
The investigations were mainly focused in Marion and Herrin, and were spearheaded by SIEG with cooperation by Marion and Herrin police departments, as well as the sheriff’s department from Williamson County and Illinois State Police.
“It is one of the largest collaborative efforts seen in a while and the first of many,” Zanotti, who just recently stepped into the office of prosecutor, said. “It is a big sign in an effort to crack down on drug sales and not get away with it in our county. Some of these are on a large level who have been under investigation for a long time.”