Gallatin County Man Pleads Guilty To Methamphetamine Related Offense

Johnny W. Hetterscheidt, 37, of Junction, Illinois, pled guilty on February 13, 2014, in United States District Court in Benton to an indictment charging him with unlawfully possessing pseudoephedrine with the intent that it be used to manufacture methamphetamine, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment, returned by a Federal Grand Jury on November 20, 2013, alleged that the offense occurred on October 11, 2013, in Saline County.

Hetterscheidt faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release to follow his incarceration when sentenced.

Hetterscheidt has been held without bond since his arrest on the federal charges and was again remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal to await sentencing which was set for May 22, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States District Courthouse in Benton.

The case was investigated by the Carmi office of the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.