Springfield, Ill. - A federal grand jury today charged a Montgomery County, Illinois man with a series of pharmacy burglaries in central Illinois communities over the past 18 months and with making a bomb threat to a Litchfield hospital in June 2008. Roger Cliffton Dyer, 33, of Waggoner, Illinois, is charged with six pharmacy burglaries, one count of making a bomb threat and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

The charges are the result of a cooperative investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of the Illinois State Police; Illinois Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad; and the Litchfield, Raymond, Assumption, Auburn, Carrollton and Staunton Police Departments. The case was referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the cooperation of the States Attorneys in Montgomery, Macoupin, Greene, and Christian County. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Hansen is prosecuting the case.

The indictment alleges Dyer committed the following burglaries:

• March 26, 2007 and June 9, 2008, Sullivan Drug, Raymond, Illinois;
• April 21, 2007, Fritz Drug Store, Staunton;
• September 16, 2007 and December 21, 2007, Metzger Healthcare Pharmacy, Assumption; and,
• January 18, 2008, Pharmacy Plus, Inc., Carrollton.

The indictment alleges Dyer committed the burglaries in which controlled substances were stolen with the intent to re-distribute them. The indictment further alleges Dyer used a telephone to make a false bomb threat to a hospital in Litchfield, Illinois, on June 9, 2008.

Dyer is currently in the custody of local law enforcement on related charges.

If convicted, each count of burglary of a pharmacy carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison; for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, the penalty is up to five years imprisonment; and making a bomb threat is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.