17 face federal methamphetamine charges | Crime

BENTON, IL (KFVS)  -  A federal grand jury in Benton, Illinois, has charged 17 individuals with methamphetamine related offenses, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced Wednesday.

Those charged with providing pseudoephedrine pills to methamphetamine manufacturers are: Dennis Bowen, 40, Johnston City, Illinois, Bridgett L. Garrington, 29, Johnston City, Illinois, Dana L. Gulley, 40, Herrin, Illinois, Dustin J. Gulley, 22, Herrin, Illinois, Sherri Gunter-Perkins, 40, West Frankfort, Illinois, Casey Heath, 24, Herrin, Illinois, Dawn Jacobsen, 37, Carbondale, Illinois, Karla Jones, 31, Herrin, Illinois, Doyle Massengill, 53, Herrin, Illinois, Stephanie Patrick, 22, Elkville, Illinois, Keith Pichelman, 24, Carbondale, Illinois, Richard Robinson, 45, Herrin, Illinois, Amber Scro-Cardwell, 28, West Frankfort, Illinois, Robin Sides, 27, Herrin, Illinois, Eric Smothers, 52, Herrin, Illinois, Mary Smothers, 45, Herrin, Illinois, and Julie Woolum, 37, Benton, Illinois.

All those charged face up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

According to Illinois State Police, in March of 2012, authorities arrested 26 defendants in Franklin County and Williamson County linked, in part, to the same drug conspiracy. They say the 17 defendants were arrested on Jan. 15 and the investigation continues.

The case was investigated by ISP, Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, and the ISP Methamphetamine Response Team with assistance from United States Marshals Service, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Benton Police Department, Royalton Police Department, West City Police Department, Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office, Franklin County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office.

“The Illinois State Police has dedicated dozens of trained officers to work with area task forces and investigate methamphetamine related activity,” said ISP Zone 7 Captain Scott Rice. “Pooling resources with our partners in local and federal law enforcement is critical in investigating criminal activity and impacting the methamphetamine problem in Southern Illinois."

ISP says law that became effective in 2012 introduced a pilot program aimed at tracking pseudoephedrine purchases a permanent process. The program, which took effect in 2009 following the introduction of the Methamphetamine Precursor Tracking Act, requires pharmacies to track purchases of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine online at The National Precursor Log Exchange. Pharmacies are also required to block purchases of more than 7.5g of pseudoephedrine made within 30 days and 3.6g of pseudoephedrine in a 24 hour time-span.

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