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
THREE CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS MEN CHARGED WITH DISTRIBUTION OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS
A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on October 6, 2009, JERAMIE WALLACE, age 30, HECTOR S. BARNES, age 32, and EARL L. DYESS, age 33, of Centralia, Illinois, were charged in separate Indictments returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois.
WALLACE was charged in a two-count indictment charging the distribution of crack cocaine. Count 1 charges that on June 2, 2009, WALLACE distributed crack cocaine. Count 2 charges that on June 8, 2009, WALLACE distributed crack cocaine.
BARNES was charged in a two-count indictment charging distribution of heroin. Count 1 charges that on June 9, 2009, BARNES distributed heroin. Count 2 charges that on June 24, 2009, BARNES distributed heroin.
DYESS was charged in a two-count indictment charging the distribution of crack cocaine. Count 1 charges that on June 19, 2009, DYESS distributed crack cocaine. Count 2 charges that on June 23, 2009, DYESS distributed crack cocaine.
Each count carries a possible penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 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 Centralia Police Department, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, 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, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County State’s Attorney’s Office, the United States Secret Service, the United States Marshal Service, 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.