News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2009
Contact: Thomas E. Murphy
(314) 538-4660

JUL 13 -- (BENTON, IL) - A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on June 2, 2009, Becky D. MORGAN, age 47, and Joshua B. DUCKWORTH, age 30, both of Carterville, Illinois, were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, in a one-count indictment, charging them with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The alleged violation took place between August 2006 and October 2008, in Jackson, Williamson, and Union Counties, Illinois.

The offense carries a penalty of 5 to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,000,000, and a term of 4 years supervised release. MORGAN and DUCKWORTH made their initial appearances in federal court on July 7, 2009. They are set for jury trial on September 15, 2009.

The investigation was conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, COMIT Drug Task Force, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration pursuant to their participation in the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative for the Southern District of Illinois. The Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and U.S. Postal Service also assisted in the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.