BENTON — According to U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton for the Southern District of Illinois, three southern Illinois residents have been charged in a one-count federal indictment, charging conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.

Tommy T. Langston, a/k/a “G,” 35, of Herrin, along with 45-year-old Tammy R. Whitton, of Mt. Vernon, and 35-year-old Jeffery L. Cain, a/k/a “Fatz,” of Carbondale, are charged with conspiracy to distribute 28 or more grams of crack cocaine.

The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between October 2014 and March 2015, in Williamson and Jackson Counties.
Langston and Cain made their initial appearances in federal court in Benton on July 9, 2015.

Whitton made her initial appearance in federal court on July 13, 2015, and appeared at a detention hearing on July 16, 2015.
All three co-defendants are currently being held without bond pending their September 14, 2015, jury trial. 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.

If convicted, the crack cocaine offense carries a penalty of 5-40 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Drug Enforcement Administration, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Carbondale Police Department.

The Williamson and Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Offices also assisted in the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.