WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. -- Williamson County officials arrested five people in connection to a monthslong drug investigation on Friday.聽
"There is no place in Williamson County for these ongoing criminal enterprises which poison and profit by distributing illegal narcotics in our community," said Sheriff Jeff Diederich.
According to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, the investigation recently revealed that Antoine D. Winston, of Matteson, IL, had left Chicago to head toward Williamson County with a large amount of Cocaine and Crack Cocaine. Deputies tracked Winston off an Amtrak train at Carbondale into a car toward Williamson County.聽
Authorities say they stopped Winston's car alongside a K9 officer. The K9 sniffed searched the car and alerted deputies to two ounces of cannabis. Investigators believe half of the drug was to be used to pay the driver of the car.聽
Upon attempting to arrest Winston, deputies say the suspect became aggressive and fled the scene. Authorities revealed a taser was used to stop Winston, who was then taken into custody.聽
Deputies said, while booking Winston, they found Crack Cocaine in his possession. According to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Winston received the following charges:
- Delivery of Controlled Substance, Cocaine
- Possession of Controlled Substance, Cocaine
- Delivery of Cannabis, 30<100
- Possession of Cannabis
- Obstructing Justice
- Resisting a Peace Officer
Williamson County Authorities went on to say that Winston had previously faced arrest in March 2024 for an investigation that yielded Crack Cocaine-related crimes.
Deputies say they recognized the connection between Winston's prior charges and his actions on Friday. As part of the interconnected investigation, deputies carried out a search warrant at 307 S. Johnson Street in Colp. Deputies say the investigation was connected to Winston's actions.聽
According to the information provided by the sheriff's office, the search of the home yielded more crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, digital scales, cutting and packaging materials and elements used to cook powder cocaine.聽
Deputies say four suspects were taken into custody in the residence:
- Teran E. Jones
- Delivery of Controlled Substance, Cocaine
- Possession of Controlled Substance, Cocaine
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Don E. Taylor
- Possession of Controlled Substance, Cocaine
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia聽
- Deborah A. Okeson
- Possession of Controlled Substance, Cocaine
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Eric R. Gottberg
- Possession of Controlled Substance, Cocaine
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
According to the sheriff's office, Jones was previously arrested in April 2024 in a search warrant execution. At that time, he faced a charge of Delivery of Controlled Substance.
Deputies say they took the five suspects arrested on Friday to the Williamson County Jail.聽
The Williamson County State's Attorney, Ted Hampson, was also credited by the sheriff's office for helping in this investigation.聽
