Mt. Vernon Man Indicted On Robbery And Gun Related Charges

David D. Weatherall, 25, of Mt. Vernon, IL, was indicted on March 3, 2015, on robbery and gun related charges in a four count Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.

Count 1 charges that on December 8, 2014, in Jefferson County, Weatherall while aiding and abetting another person, did unlawfully obstruct, delay and affect, and attempt to obstruct, delay and affect, commerce by robbery, in that Weatherall and another person did unlawfully take and obtain personal property consisting of United States Currency and cigarettes, belonging to Huck’s Convenient Food Store, 540 Fairfield Road, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, by means of actual and threatened force, violence and fear of injury, and by brandishing a firearm.

Count 2 charges that on December 8, 2014, in Jefferson County, Weatherall did knowingly aid and abet another person, who did knowingly brandish a firearm, during and in relation to a crime of violence as charged in Count 1.

Count 3 charges that on December 9, 2014, in Marion County, Weatherall did unlawfully obstruct, delay and affect, and attempt to obstruct, delay and affect, commerce by robbery, in that 2

Weatherall did unlawfully take and obtain personal property consisting of United States Currency and Hennessy Liquor, belonging to Biggies Cafe and General Store, 3858 State Route 161, Centralia, Illinois, by means of actual and threatened force, violence and fear of injury, and by brandishing a firearm.

Count 4 charged that on December 9, 2014, in Marion County, Weatherall did knowingly brandish a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence as charged in Count 3.

With respect to Counts 1 and 3, Weatherall faces on each count up to 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of up to 3 years.

With respect to Counts 2 and 4, Weatherall faces on each count a minimum of 7 years in prison, up to life in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of up to 5 years. Any sentence on Count 2 or Count 4 must run consecutive to any other Count of which Weatherall is convicted.

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 in this case was conducted by the Mt. Vernon Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Centralia Police Department.

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