Published: October 13, 2009 08:25 pm      

Federal drug sweep results in nine indictments

Staff Report

BENTON — Nine Centralia residents have been indicted in federal court for allegedly participating in a cocaine/heroin distribution ring in Centralia and Mt. Vernon.

Centralia residents David N. Barnes, 22; Kass A. Barnes, 26; Dorian D. Reeves, 22; Walter G. Sanders Jr., 29; Valencia K. Mattthews, 26; Marzeal M. Marshall, 32; Frankie J. Maines, 20; Jason M. Wallace, 31; and Eric S. Moore II, 21, have been named in the multi-count indictment which was returned by a federal grand jury.

Count 1 alleges that from August 2008 to Sept. 30, 2009, in Jefferson County, Marion County and elsewhere, David M. Barnes, Kass A. Barnes, Sanders, Matthews, Marshall, Maines, Wallace and Moore conspired and agreed with each other and with other persons to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. According to information from the U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Illinois, the amount of crack cocaine involved in the alleged conspiracy is more than 50 grams.

Count 2 alleges that from August 2009 to Sept. 30, David Barnes and Reeves conspired and agreed with each other and with other persons to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin.

Count 3 alleges that on July 31, 2007, David Barnes possessed more than 50 grams of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute the drug. Counts 4 and 5 of the indictment allege Barnes distributed crack cocaine on March 19 and March 31.

Counts 6, 7 and 8 allege Sanders distributed crack cocaine on March 30, April 16 and June 23; Counts 11 and 12 allege Kass Barnes distributed crack cocaine on March 26 and May 19; Counts 13, 14 and 15 allege Reeves distributed heroin on Aug. 29, Sept. 1 and Sept. 16; counts 19, 20 and 21 allege Matthews distributed crack cocaine on April 8 and April 14; counts 22, 23, 24 and 25 allege Marshall distributed crack cocaine twice on July 15 and twice on July 30; counts 26, 27 and 28 allege Maines distributed crack cocaine on April 20, May 26 and Sept. 4; counts 30 and 31 allege Wallace distributed crack cocaine on May 21 and May 26; and counts 32 and 33 allege Moore distributed crack cocaine on April 14 and April 16.

The investigation into alleged crack/heroin distribution ring was conducted by the Centralia Police Department, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, the Joint Narcotics Unit of the Mt. Vernon Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administra-tion, the Illinois State Police, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County State’s Attorney’s Office, the United States Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshal Service.