Williamson County Man Charged With Drug and Gun Offenses

Randall L. Walker, a/k/a "Pork Chop," and "Chop," of Marion, Illinois, has been charged by indictment with unlawful distribution of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The two-count federal indictment alleges that the offenses occurred in November 2018, in Williamson County. Walker, 39, made his initial appearance in federal court earlier today and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was ordered held without bond pending a February 11, 2019 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 proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The drug offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. If convicted, Walker also faces up to 10 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearm offense.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Marion Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.