Four Southern Illinois residents have been charged with a one-count superseding indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of Illinois.
The indictment was announced May 2 and includes 47-year-old Starlet J. Howie (AKA Star Oettle and Star Miller) of Cutler; 29-year-old Mandy L. Hagen of Lenzburg, 31-year-oold Jeremy S. Copple of St. Libory and 26-year-old Daniel M. Dortch of Chester.
The offense is alleged to have occurred between 2015 and April 2017 in Perry, Randolph, Monroe and St. Clair counties.
The group was held without bond until a May 15 detention hearing. Copple and Dortch were scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court on that day as well.
Meth conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five to 40 years in prison, to be followed by four years of mandatory supervised release, and a fine up to $5 million.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Perry County Sheriff's Office, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, St. Clair County Sheriff's Office Drug Tactical Unit, Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois, Chester Police Department, Coulterville Police Department, Belleville Police Department, Lenzburg Police Department, Perry County (Missouri) Sheriff's Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Randolph County State's Attorney's office and the Monroe County State's Attorney's office also assisted in the investigation.
