Jefferson County Man Charged With Firearm And Heroin Offenses

On April 5, 2016, L C Richardson, a/k/a "L.C. Richardson," 38, of Mt. Vernon, was charged by indictment with Unlawful Distribution of Heroin and two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, James L. Porter, announced today.

The indictment alleges that the offenses occurred on January 22, 2016, and January 25, 2016, in Jefferson County. Richardson made his initial appearance in federal court on these charges on April 7, 2016. He was ordered held without bond pending a June 13, 2016, jury trial.

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 heroin offense carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. The firearm offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Vernon Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.