MADISON COUNTY FATHER, SON ARE ACCUSED OF HELPING RUN DRUG RING

A father and son from Madison County are accused in a federal indictment of
using their used-car business to help run a marijuana-cocaine ring, and
using their pigeon-selling business to hide the profits.

The men, Frank S. Vilmer, 65, and Scott A. Vilmer, 34, are among 12 men
charged in the indictment, unsealed recently in federal court in East St.
Louis. Seven of the men are from the St. Louis area. The rest are from Texas.

The indictment accuses the ring of obtaining 837 pounds of marijuana and
seven kilograms of cocaine last month with the intent of selling it. The
indictment says the ring distributed drugs from 1989 until November of this
year.

The government is seeking to seize $15 million and 23 pieces of property
from the suspects.

The indictment says the Vilmers, who live in the 5100 block of Stacy Drive
in the Mitchell area, claimed large amounts of cash were earned through the
sale of pigeons, not illegal narcotics. The pigeon business, Midwest
Pigeons, bought show pigeons for use in training dogs. The auto business,
Midwest Motors, was used to purchase cars used to transport drugs, the
indictment alleges.

Prosecutors targeted for seizure four accounts at the Bank of Edwardsville
in the names of the Vilmers and their pigeon business. Most of the lots and
houses targeted for seizure are on Stacy Drive. Some of the properties are
listed as belonging to the Vilmers, others to Midwest Pigeons, and still
others to Billy L. Corbitt, 36, who was also charged in the indictment.

All of the men have been arrested. Four of them have been detained in jail,
an additional four have been released on bond, and prosecutor Ralph
Friederich has objected to the release of another three, who are due in
court for hearings over their release.

One man has yet to make his first appearance in court.

Also charged were Bradley W. Logsdon, 42, Robert Girtman, 43, and Ernest J.
Carpenter, 36, all of St. Louis, and Raymond Carpenter, 42, of Pevely. The
rest are from cities in Texas.

The men face from 10 years to life in prison under the most serious of the
charges, conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine. All 12 are charged
with that offense.