The United States Attorney's Office

MT. VERNON, ILLINOIS MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF CRACK COCAINE WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE

A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on October 6, 2009, TERRANCE R. VANCE, age 27, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, was charged in a two-count Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois.

Count 1 charges that on September 15, 2009, in Jefferson County, VANCE possessed with the intent to distribute less than 5 grams of crack cocaine. Count 2 charges that on November 7, 2008, in Jefferson County, VANCE possessed with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of crack cocaine.

With respect to Count 1, the possible penalties are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years. With respect to Count 2, the possible penalties are up to 5-40 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years.

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 investigation was conducted by the Joint Narcotics Unit of the Mt. Vernon Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Illinois State Police, and other law enforcement agencies pursuant to their participation in the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a joint and cooperative effort of the United States Attorney’s Office, and federal, state and local law enforcement agencies directed at removing guns and drugs from our communities.

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