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Methamphetamine Ring Thwarted by Feds in Knox County
It took eleven months for Federal and local authorities to build their case, but "Operation Saddle-Up" nabbed fourteen more in methamphetamine arrests in West Central Illinois Monday.

According to a Grand Jury Indictment released Monday, the 14 individuals span from 19 to 46 years old, and are mostly male. Among them are five from Galesburg, three from Knoxville, and two from Abingdon (See below for full list of arrests).

Director of the Multi-County Narcotic Enforcement Group Rene Sandoval said today discovering the meth labs was a game changer that sends a harsh message.

"When you can pull resources together, which we basically did for this roundup, make this many arrests, it makes a difference," he said. "It makes a difference for law enforcement, it makes a difference for the community, and it also makes a difference for the environment."

"It's a good day for us to make this many arrests, great conspiracy case. It was led by the U.S. Attorney's Office, as well as quite a few agencies that were involved."

U.S. Marshals, Illinois State Troopers, Peoria Police, and Abingdon Police all collaborated in making the fourteen arrests yesterday.

The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired together and with others to manufacture and distribute more than 500 grams of meth in Knox County from the summer of 09' to January of this year.

A conviction for first time offenders of the alleged charges carries a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison.

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14 total are charged from Monday's meth-related arrests. The defendants were in a Peoria federal court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John A. Gorman. They include:

Maurice R.D. Gryp, also known as WIllie J. Kelso, of Galesburg, Ill. (previously in custody);
Adam R. Faull, 45, of Galesburg;
Mickey J. Huber, 37, of Galesburg, (previously in custody);
Jeremy S. Larson, 30, of Galesburg, (previously in custody);
Eric L. Webster, 28, of Galesburg;
Derek A. Bearce, 31, of Knoxville;
Tracy R. Yoder, 31, of Knoxville;
Taylor J. Petty, 19, of Knoxville;
Joseph P. Evans, 30, of Abingdon;
Casey L. Goff, a.k.a. Casey L. Clayton, 26, of Abingdon;
Richard Pinkowski, 29, of Altona;
Rebecca I. Muckey, 23, of Wataga;
Jason R. Lyons, 38 of Cuba; and
Dustin M. Baker, 24, of Hannibal, Mo.




(TOP: US Attorney Jim Lewis for the Central District of Illinois speaks Monday inside Galesburg's City Hall alongside PMEG Director Rene Sandoval; MIDDLE: Lewis and Sandoval are joined by Knox County State's Attorney John Pepmeyer (left) and Knox County Sheriff David Clague (right); BOTTOM: Several television news outlets gather at the back of Council Chambers; WGIL Photos and News Story by Kyle Schassburger)
12 06 11 by Newsroom
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