Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Six southern Illinois residents and one Cape Girardeau man were indicted on May 3, 2016, for methamphetamine-related offenses, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois James L. Porter announced today.

Kyle E. Easterly, 29, and Charles W. Yearian, a/k/a "Chucky," 29, Randall J. Riley, 42, Lucas L. Holland, 29, and Ivan Weaver, 24, all of Murphysboro, Elizabeth A. Stell, a/k/a "Beth Bramlett," "Elizabeth Albritton," 45, of Dongola, and Devonce C. Patterson, a/k/a "George," "Little Buddy, 22, of Cape Girardeau, are all charged in a superseding indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. Easterly and Yearian are also charged with one count of possession of pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the offenses occurred between April 2015 and March 2016, in Jackson and Perry Counties. Easterly, Yearian, Holland, and Stell have appeared in federal court and are currently being held without bond pending a July 11, 2016, jury trial. Riley, Weaver, and Patterson are scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court on May 16, 2016.

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 methamphetamine offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Union County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.

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