Randolph County Woman Charged with Drug Offense
A Randolph County resident was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2011, and charged with possession of a listed chemical knowing that it would be used to manufacture a controlled substance, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
On November 21, 2011, Penelope J. Reed, a/k/a Penny Warren, 37, of Chester, IL, appeared in federal court in Benton, on the one-count indictment charging Possession of a Listed Chemical Knowing it Would Be Used to Manufacture a Controlled Substance. On November 22, 2011, Reed was released on a recognizance bond. Reed pled not guilty and is set for a January 23, 2012, jury trial.
The conspiracy offense is alleged to have occurred between September, 2006, and October, 2011, in Randolph and Jackson Counties. The offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. 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, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Police Department, Murphysboro Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
