Three Richland County, Illinois men were indicted on January 4, 2018, on
methamphetamine related charges in separate indictments returned by a federal grand jury, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.

  Brian E. Adkins, age 35, of Olney, IL was charged in a two-count indictment.  Count 1 charged that from February 2015, until on or about December 11, 2017, in Richland County, and elsewhere, Adkins conspired to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine.  It is further alleged that the total amount of methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice), or 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.  Count 2 charges that on August 30, 2015, in Richland County, Adkins distributed methamphetamine.

With respect to Count 1, Adkins faces ten years to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than five years. 

With respect to Count 2, Adkins faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000
fine, and supervised release not less than three years. 
 
Brandon L. Atwood, age 33, of Olney, Illinois, was charged in a four-count indictment.  Count 1 charges that from 2015, until on or about December 29, 2017, in Richland County, and elsewhere, Atwood conspired to distribute methamphetamine.  It is further alleged that the total amount of methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was five grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice), or fifty 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Count 2 charges that on November 4, 2017, in Richland County, Atwood distributed methamphetamine.  Count 3 charges that on November 5, 2017, in Richland County, Atwood distributed methamphetamine.  Count 4 charges that on December 29, 2017, Atwood possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine. With respect to Count 1, Atwood faces 5-40 years of imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than four years. 

With respect to Counts 2-4, Atwood faces on each count up to 20 years of imprisonment, 
up to a $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than three years. 

Robert A. Harden, age 44, of Calhoun, Illinois, was charged in a two-count indictment.  Count 1 charges that from 2016, until on or about August 2017, in Richland County, and elsewhere, Harden conspired to distribute methamphetamine.  It is further alleged that the total amount of methamphetamine involved in the conspiracy was five grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice), or 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.  Count 2 charges that on January 20, 2017, in Effingham County, Harden possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.  With respect to Count 1, Harden faces 5-40 years of imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than four years. 

With respect to Count 2, Harden faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a
$1,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than three years. 

 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.  

The investigations in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office,  with assistance from the Flora Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State Police.