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Press Release
Seven Southern Illinois residents have plead guilty to drug offenses in federal court in Benton, Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
On September 17, 2014, Maurice L. Robinson, a/k/a “Ray Ray,” 34, and Harold Lawayne Barron, a/k/a “Wayne,” 51, both of Murphysboro, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. The crack cocaine offense occurred between May 2013, and September 2013, in Jackson County. Additionally, Barron pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The methamphetamine offense occurred between August 2012, and October 2013, in Jackson and Perry Counties. Both offenses carry penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. Robinson and Barron are currently being held without bond pending December 22, 2014, sentencing hearings. Co-defendant Jamie Kay Kelly, a/k/a “Jamie K.” and “Jamie K. Short,” previously pled guilty to the crack cocaine and methamphetamine offenses.
In a separate case, On September 17, 2014, Jeffry M. Presutti, Jr., 37, of Pomona, Illinois, pled guilty to an indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The offense occurred between April 2013 and October 2013, in Jackson County. Evidence at the plea hearing established that Presutti was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Presutti sometimes manufactured methamphetamine at his Pomona residence. In October 2013, police officers and DCFS workers went to Presutti’s residence to investigate complaints that Presutti was manufacturing methamphetamine inside the residence, when children were present. Officers recovered a methamphetamine lab and observed evidence of multiple burned areas inside the residence. Presutti suffered methamphetamine-related burns when he fled from the officers. The methamphetamine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. Presutti is currently being held without bond pending a December 22, 2014, sentencing hearing.
Again, on September 17, 2014, Sarah Lindsey, 30, of Marion, Illinois, pled guilty to an indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. This offense occurred between 2012 and January 22, 2014, in Williamson and Jackson Counties. Evidence at the plea hearing established that Lindsey was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Lindsay obtained pseudoephedrine pills for herself or others to use to manufacture methamphetamine. During a January 22, 2014, Illinois Department of Corrections compliance check, agents located a methamphetamine lab at Lindsey’s Marion residence. This methamphetamine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. Lindsey is currently being held without bond, pending a January 8, 2015, sentencing hearing.
Also, on September 17, 2014, Frank R. Johnson, a/k/a “Mo,” 44, of Elkville, Illinois, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute heroin. Evidence at the plea hearing established that Johnson was transporting ounce amounts of heroin from northern Illinois to Elkville for distribution. On numerous occasions, Johnson sold heroin to a confidential source working for law enforcement and to an undercover agent. When agents executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence, they recovered heroin, digital scales, drug packaging materials, and a large amount of U.S. currency. The offense occurred between 2012 and January 2014, in Jackson and Franklin Counties. The heroin offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. Johnson is currently being held without bond, pending a January 7, 2015, sentencing hearing.
Finally, on September 17, 2014, Brandon K. Craig, 31, of Carbondale, and Larry E. Recar, 38, of Murphysboro, each pled guilty to an indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. This offense occurred between 2010 and January 2014, in Jackson, Williamson, Union, and Franklin Counties. Evidence at the plea hearings established that Craig and Recar were involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Other persons supplied pseudoephedrine pills to Craig and Recar to use to manufacture methamphetamine. Two co-defendants have previously been sentenced for their role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. Two co-defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Six co-defendants have pled not guilty and are awaiting jury trial. Possible punishment includes a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. Craig and Recar are also being held without bond pending January 7, 2015, sentencing hearings.
All of these ongoing investigations were conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Murphysboro Police Department, Illinois State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.
All of the cases are assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.