For Immediate Release
July 3, 2008

CARLYLE RESIDENTS INDICTED
ON FRAUD CHARGES

A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on June 19, 2008, JOSEPH DIEKEMPER, age 60, and MARGARET DIEKEMPER, age 64, of Carlyle, Illinois, were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois in a twenty three count indictment charging them with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bankruptcy Fraud, one count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, six counts of Mail Fraud, ten counts of Bankruptcy Fraud, one count of False Statement to United States Department of Agriculture Commodity Credit Corporation, two counts of Perjury, one count of Obstruction of Justice, and one count of False Statement.

The offenses of Conspiracy to Commit Bankruptcy Fraud, each count of Bankruptcy Fraud, False Statement to the United States Department of Agriculture Commodity Credit Corporation, each count of Perjury, Obstruction of Justice, and False Statement carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment or a fine of $250,000, or both and three years of supervised release. The offenses of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and each count of Mail Fraud carry a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to five years supervised release.

The indictment was originally suppressed, but has been unsealed. JOSEPH DIEKEMPER’s initial appearance was held on June 26, 2008. MARGARET DIEKEMPER’s initial appearance is scheduled for July 7, 2008.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Department of Agriculture conducted the investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Burke.