Men are Charged in Federal Court; Court Orders Them Held Without Bail
On Aug. 21, 2013, a federal grand jury sitting in East St. Louis indicted three men for Interference with Commerce by Violence, a violation of the Hobbs Act, in connection with the robbery of Chili’s Bar and Grill in Fairview Heights on Aug. 1, 2013, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois announced today. Following a hearing held this morning, each of the three defendants was ordered detained, that is, held without bail, pending trial, which is scheduled to occur in East St. Louis on October 7, 2013.
Christopher Jamaal Ford, 28, of St. Louis, Daniel W. Amerson, 26, of Cahokia, and Terry Lee Scott, 44, of Alorton, have been in custody since their arrests on Aug. 1, 2013. If convicted of a violation of the Hobbs Act, the defendants each face a term in prison of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant that is comprised of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The case is being investigated by the Fairview Heights Police Department and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne M. Garrison for prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
