The United States Attorney's Office

FIVE CHARGED IN METHAMPHETAMINE MANUFACTURING CONSPIRACY

A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on October 6, 2009, LOYD W. TUTOR SR., age 51, of Cahokia, Illinois, LOYD W. TUTOR JR., age 31, of Columbia, Illinois, JAMES E. KEMPFER SR., age 37, of Chester, Illinois, DUSTIN HOUK, age 23, of Chester, Illinois, and BRYAN HOUK, age 25, of Chester, Illinois, were named in a one-count Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois.

The Indictment charges that from about June 2008, until August 11, 2009, all five defendants conspired to knowingly and intentionally manufacture methamphetamine. The amount of methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was five hundred (500) grams or more.

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.

All the defendants face a penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and not less than 5 years supervised release.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Marshal Service, Randolph County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Chester Police Department.

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