(BENTON, IL) — On August 20, 2014, Tyree M. Neal, Jr., a/k/a “Bubby,” 27, of Marion, IL, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced Thursday. The offense occurred between 2012 and August 2014, in Williamson County. Neal, who had been a fugitive, was arrested on February 24, 2015, and made his initial appearance in federal court on February 25, 2015. He is being held with bond pending a March 2, 2015, bond hearing. The cocaine offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. 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 ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The Marion Police Department and United States Marshals Service assisted in the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.