Last Tuesday, 38-year old L C Richardson of Mount Vernon, was charged by indictment with Unlawful Distribution of Heroin and two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, according to the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, James L. Porter.  The indictment alleges that the offenses occurred this year on January 22^nd and the 25^th in Jefferson County.  Richardson made his initial appearance in federal court on these charges on April 7, 2016.  He was ordered held without bond pending a June 13, 2016, jury trial.  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 heroin offense carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a $1 million fine.  The firearm offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.