(EAST ST. LOUIS, IL) —  On May 2, 2017, four southern Illinois residents were charged with a methamphetamine offense, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced Friday. Starlet J. Howie, a/k/a “Star Oettle,” and “Star Miller,” 47, of Cutler, Mandy L. Hagen, 29, of Lenzburg, Jeremy S. Copple, 31, of St. Libory, and Daniel M. Dortch, 26, of Chester, were charged in a one-count second superseding indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between 2015 and April 2017, in Perry, Randolph, Monroe, and St. Clair Counties. On May 8, 2017, Howie and Hagen made their initial appearances in federal court. They were ordered held without bond pending a May 15, 2017, detention hearing. Copple and Dortch are scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court on May 15, 2017.  The methamphetamine offense carries a maximum penalty of 5-40 years of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine.  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 ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Drug Tactical Unit, Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois, Chester Police Department, Coulterville Police Department, Belleville Police Department, Lenzburg Police Department, Perry County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Randolph County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Monroe County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.