MAR 04 -- (BENTON, IL) - A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on February 3, 2009, RAYMOND D. WOOLEY, a/k/a “Dub,” age 24, Bryant K. MAYBELL , a/k/a “B ,” age23, Raymond E. BLYTHE, a/k/a “Bud ,” and “ Ray-Bud ,” age 25, and Davon V. BELL , age 21, all of Carbondale, Illinois, were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, in a one-count superseding indictment charging them and others with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. The violation took place between August 2006 and August 2008, in Jackson and Williamson Counties.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

MAYBELL appeared in court on February 26, 2009, and was ordered held without bond. WOOLEY and BLYTHE were previously ordered held without bond pending a March 24, 2009, jury trial.

The offense carries a penalty of 10 years’ to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $4,000,000, and a term of 5 years’ supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Illinois State Police, Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Carbondale Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.