Illinois State Police
June 22, 2021
The Franklin County State’s Attorney announces that 19 people have been Indicted in Franklin County on 30 felony charges of Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine. The Indictments were handed down by a Grand Jury on Friday, June 18, 2021. The undercover investigation spanned 6 months and was conducted by the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force using Agents and confidential sources and with assistance from the Franklin County State’s Attorney’s Office. As of the writing of this press release, most of the defendants have been apprehended. Bonds on some of the accused are upwards of $100,000 due to the seriousness and the danger involved with these types of investigations. Due to the extent of this operation, more Indictments are anticipated in the near future.
On June 21, 2021, the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force (SIDTF), Illinois State Police District 13, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, West Frankfort Police Department, Christopher Police Department, Zeigler Police Department, Benton Police Department and West City Police Department conducted an arrest warrant detail in Franklin County, Illinois. The following individuals were arrested for unlawful delivery of methamphetamine:
Jared Ray, a 32-year-old male of West Frankfort, IL
Justin Osborne, a 31-year-old male of Benton, IL
Preston Williams, a 23-year-old male of West Frankfort, IL
Brandy Wilkerson, a 41-year-old female of Benton, IL
Jeremy Upton, a 31-year-old male of Benton, IL
Ryan Murphy, a 41-year-old male of West Frankfort, IL
Chad Turley, a 31-year-old male of West Frankfort, IL
Shane Webster, a 37-year-old male of Zeigler, IL
Courtney Weaver, a 27-year-old male of West City, IL
James Munyon, a 29-year-old male of West Frankfort, IL
Wesley Miller, a 33-year-old male of West Frankfort, IL
Spring Leonard, a 22-year-old female of West Frankfort, IL
Jeffrey Connell, a 42-year-old male of West Frankfort, IL
Cody Shulda, a 28-year-old male of West Frankfort, IL – Possession of Methamphetamine
Travis Braden, a 34-year-old male of McCleansboro, IL – Wanted on Warrant
The investigation leading to these arrests was conducted by the SIDTF. The membership of the DuQuoin Office of the SIDTF is comprised of the Illinois State Police, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, West Frankfort Police Department, Zeigler Police Department, Christopher Police Department and the Franklin County State’s Attorney’s Office. The cases will be prosecuted by the Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn.
The public is reminded that, under law, a defendant is presumed innocent of a charge until proven guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt, to the satisfaction of a jury.
The Chicago Times 