Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois,
announced today that on January 11, 2011, JEREMIAH N. GARRETT, age 26, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois,
was charged in a two count Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois.

Count 1 charges that on September 4, 2010, in Jefferson County, GARRETT knowingly
and intentionally distributed crack cocaine. Count 1 charges that on September 6, 2010, in Jefferson
County, GARRETT knowingly and intentionally distributed crack cocaine.

With respect to each Count, the possible penalties are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine
of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. 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 investigation was conducted by the Joint Narcotics Unit of the Mt. Vernon Police
Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the
Illinois State Police, and other law enforcement agencies pursuant to their participation in the Project
Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a joint and cooperative effort of the
United States Attorney’s Office, and federal, state and local law enforcement agencies directed at
removing guns and drugs from our communities.

The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney George Norwood.

 

 

 

 

 

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