NEWS RELEASE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
A. COURTNEY COX, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
Nine Executive Drive, Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208, Telephone (618) 628-3700
For Immediate Release
October 13, 2009
POMONA, ILLINOIS MAN ARRESTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO MANUFACTURE METHAMPHETAMINE
A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today CORY M. STEARNS, age 23, of Pomona, Illinois, was arrested by the United States Marshal’s Service on October 5, 2009, and made his initial appearance in federal court on October 6, 2009. STEARNS is being held without bond pending a February 16, 2009, jury trial. STEARNS was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, on June 2, 2009, in a one-count indictment, charging him with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The alleged violation took place between August 2006 and October 2008, in Jackson, Williamson, and Union 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.
The investigation was conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, COMIT Drug Task Force, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration 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 Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and U.S. Postal Service also assisted in the investigation.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.