Jeannette L. Margenthaler, 41, of Equality, Illinois, was arraigned in United States District Court in Benton on an indictment charging her with 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 February 5th, alleged that the offense occurred on January 8, 2013.
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.
If convicted, Margenthaler faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release to follow her incarceration.
Margenthaler was ordered held without bond and was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal to await further proceedings.
The case was investigated by the Carmi office of the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
