NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
STEPHEN R. WIGGINTON UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
Nine Executive Drive, Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208 402 West Main Street, Benton, Illinois 62812
For Immediate Release Public Information Officer November 23, 2010 FAUSA Randy G. Massey (618) 628-3700
CARBONDALE RESIDENT CHARGED IN HEROIN CONSPIRACY
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on November 17, 2010, TERRENCE PIRTLE, a/k/a “TT,” age 34, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois, in a one-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute heroin. The violation took place from in or about March 2009, through October 2, 2009, in Jackson County.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge and is entitled to a fair trial at which the Government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The conspiracy offense carries a penalty of not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of 3 years’ supervised release. PIRTLE made his initial appearance in federal court on November 22, 2010. On November 23, 2010, PIRTLE was ordered held without bond pending his jury trial, which is currently scheduled for January 24, 2011.
The investigation was conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The investigation was conducted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods DRAGUN Team Initiative, a cooperative effort of local, state, and federal law enforcement, and state and federal prosecuting authorities, aimed at ridding communities of illegal drugs and guns.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
