Twenty-Five Area People Arrested on Federal Drug and Weapons Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 10, 2013 |
ST. LOUIS, MO—Twenty-five area people have been arrested on three indictments involving federal drug and weapons charges involving the distribution and manufacture of large amounts of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Missouri from October 2010 to September 2013. Several of the individuals indicted are members of the Saddle Tramps Motorcycle Club, including Arvil B. Matthews, the president of the club.
"This case is another example of some of the problems with House Bill No. 436. If it were the law today, criminal defendants in this case would have the right to sue the law enforcement officers who investigated the case, and the law enforcement officers would be defendants in both civil and criminal lawsuits. I can't believe this is what the legislature intended," said U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan.
Indicted:
- JORGE LOPEZ, 37, Corinth, Texas
- MELVIN J. SCHERRER, 49, Bonne Terre, Missouri
- ALAN D. ADLER, 54, Bonne Terre, Missouri
- BRENT T. BOUREN, 42, St. Louis, Missouri
- HOWARD R. PYATT, a/k/a “Bud,” 55, Bonne Terre, Missouri
- ARVIL B. MATTHEWS, 50, Imperial, Missouri
- MARK E. ABNEY, 47, Bonne Terre, Missouri
- AMBER D. SCISM, 31, Farmington, Missouri
- TERRI L. FOX, 47, St. Louis, Missouri
- GUILLERMO NAVARRO, a/k/a “Willie,” 35, St. Louis, Missouri
- JERRY L. ADDISON, 66, St. Louis, Missouri
- JERAMI A. WESTENBERGER, 35, Arnold, Missouri
- RAY ALLEN DAVIS, Jr., 46, Union, Missouri
- JAMES A. MITCHELL, 44, St. Louis area
- PATRICK A. TATE, 41, St. Louis, Missouri
- JIMMIE D. JOHNSON, 60, St. Clair, Missouri
- DONALD J. MAGUIRE, 54, St. Louis, Missouri
- THEODORE S. HEEGE, 48, St. Louis, Missouri
- NORMA J. EGAN, 47, St. Louis, Missouri
- DONNA L. MOSS, 45, St. Louis, Missouri
- SHEILA C. HEEGE, 47, St. Louis, Missouri
- DANIELLE R. BECKER, 29, Park Hills, Missouri
- HALEY L. MEIER, 34, St. Louis, Missouri
- HEATHER N. MARTIN, 27, St. Louis, Missouri
- AMY G. HORRELL, 33, Bonne Terre, Missouri
If convicted, the drug charges carry penalty ranges of 10 years to life in prison; firearms charges carry up to 10 years in prison. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case is a joint operation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; St. Charles and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offices; the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; and multiple local law enforcement agencies. Assistant United States Attorney Jeannette Graviss is handling the case for the Attorney’s Office.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.