Cobden man indicted on heroin conspiracy charge

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced Dec. 20 that Roberto Alaniz, also known as “Berto,” 26, of Cobden, had been indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in East St. Louis in a one-count superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute heroin.

The indictment was handed down Dec. 15.

The violation took place between December 2008 and May 17 of this year in Union and Jackson counties.

Wigginton said the offense carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million and a term of four years of supervised release.

Alaniz is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court on Jan. 6, 2011.

One previously indicted co-defendant has pleaded guilty and sentenced for her role in the heroin conspiracy.

Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

One co-defendant has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting a jury trial.

The investigation was conducted by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Murphysboro Police Department in cooperation with Union County State’s Attorney Tyler Edmonds.

The investigation is being conducted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.

The initiative is a cooperative effort of local, state and federal law enforcement, and state and federal prosecuting authorities, and is aimed at ridding communities of illegal drugs and guns.

The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.