Two federal indictments have been handed down to Knox County men following a law enforcement investigation into meth distribution.
49-year-old Michael A. Villarreal and 53-year-old Casey D. McGee were indicted on March 19 in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.
They are accused of distributing meth through Knox County and the surrounding areas.
A release from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department says a federal investigation has been ongoing for a year.
During the investigation, police seized over 5 pounds of meth, multiple firearms, and 4 pounds of cannabis.
The investigation also revealed that approximately 2 to 5 pounds of meth was being distributed throughout the Knox County area every month.
Both Villarreal and McGee have pleaded not guilty to all counts and have been assigned the Federal Public Defender. McGee’s next court appearance will be April 22 at 10 a.m., with Villarreal to follow at 10:30 a.m.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by the FBI TOC West, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Galesburg Police Department, and the Quad Cities United States Attorney Office.
