HERRIN MAN INDICTED
ON METHAMPHETAMINE CHARGE

A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on April 7, 2009, JON B. CALCATERRA, age 31, of Herrin, Illinois, was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, in a one-count indictment, charging him with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The violation is alleged to have taken place between December 2005 and December 18, 2008, in Jackson and Williamson Counties, 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.

The offense carries a penalty of 5-40 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,000,000, and a term of 4 years’ supervised release upon conviction. CALCATERRA is being held without bond pending an April 21, 2009, bond hearing.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, and pursuant to their participation in the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative for the Southern District of Illinois. The goal of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is to remove illegal guns and drugs from our communities. Under the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors are working together to prosecute drug dealers, felons in possession of firearms, and criminals that use firearms to commit violent offenses or drug trafficking offenses in the system that will get them the most time.

The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.