Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on August 3, 2011, Zeno David Vigneault, 34, was indicted in a one count federal indictment with making a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer.

The Indictment charges that on May 29, 2011, in Williamson County, in a matter within the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, a department and agency of the United States of America, Vigneault did knowingly and willfully make a material false statement and representation, in that he gave a false name to a Law Enforcement Officer for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, knowing that the name was false, all in violation of federal law.

Vigneault had his initial court appearance on September 6, 2011. Evidence discussed at that public hearing indicated that Vigneault gave a false name to a law enforcement officer because Vigneault had an outstanding arrest warrant. Vigneault then fled from the officer, but was arrested several days later.

If convicted, Vigneault faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years’ supervised release. Vigneault is set for a Jury Trial on November 7, 2011, in the United States District Court in Benton, Illinois.

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.

 

 

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