NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

A. COURTNEY COX

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

Nine Executive Drive, Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208, Telephone (618) 628-3700

For Immediate Release

For Immediate Release

March 9, 2009

CARLYLE WOMAN SENTENCED FOR ROLE IN BANKRUPTCY FRAUD CONSPIRACY

A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on March 9, 2009, MARGARET DIEKEMPER, of Carlyle, Illinois, was sentenced by a Federal Judge sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois for committing Conspiracy to Commit Bankruptcy Fraud.

MARGARET DIEKEMPER was sentenced to two years probation, a five hundred dollar fine, and a one hundred dollar special assessment.

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 Jennifer Hudson and Kevin Burke.