Franklin County Resident Charged With Methamphetamine Offenses

A federal grand jury in Benton, Illinois, has charged a Franklin County, Illinois, resident with methamphetamine related offenses. The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced the charges today. Carl L. Darnell was charged in a nine-count indictment with possessing pseudoephedrine pills intending that they be used to manufacture methamphetamine. If convicted, Darnell faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine as to each count. Darnell appeared in Court and was ordered held without bond after the Court advised him of his rights and at the completion of a detention hearing.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation in this case was conducted by, the Illinois State Police, Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, the Sesser, Illinois, Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff=s Office, the Energy, Illinois Police Department, the West Frankfort, Illinois, Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.