Two Perry County, Illinois, residents were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 21, 2013, and charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
On May 24, 2013, Pattsy P. Pelate, 26, Willisville, and Julie A. Keller, a/k/a “Julie Smith," “Julie Keller-Smith," 34, Cutler, were arraigned in United States District Court in Benton on their indictment. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between 2010 and November 2012, in Jackson and Randolph Counties. Pelate and Keller are currently being held without bond pending a May 28, 2013, detention hearing.
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, Pelate and Keller face up to 20 years’ imprisonment, 3 years’ supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, and Murphysboro Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
