Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Illinois
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015
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Jesse L. Benefield, 27, of Claremont, IL, and Sherry K. Auteberry, 49, of Olney, Illinois, were indicted on Feb. 3, 2015, on methamphetamine related charges in a two count Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Count 1 charges that from May 2014, until on or about Jan. 26, 2015, in Richland County, and elsewhere within the Southern District of Illinois, Benefield and Auteberry conspired with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury to manufacture methamphetamine.
Count 2 charges that from Nov. 2, 2008, to on or about Jan. 23, 2015, in Richland County, Auteberry possessed pseudoephedrine pills, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the pills would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
With respect to Count 1, Benefield and Auteberry each face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release of at least 3 years.
With respect to Count 2, Auteberry faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of up to 3 years.
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.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney George Norwood.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
