A 30-year old man from Mount Vernon, Robert A. Tate, was indicted last Tuesday on methamphetamine related charges in a two count Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, according to Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.  Count 1 charges that from February 2013, until on or about June 2014, in Jefferson County, Tate knowingly conspired to manufacture methamphetamine.  Count 2 charges that on March 31, 2014, in Jefferson County, Tate knowingly and intentionally distributed methamphetamine.  With respect to each Count, Tate faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to $1 million fine and supervised release of at least 3 years.  The investigation in this case was conducted by the Joint Narcotics Unit of the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.