U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Press Release

February 23, 2006

Weysan Dun, Special Agent in Charge, Springfield Division, announced that Chuck Beason and Robert Lee Beason, Jr. were arrested yesterday on drug conspiracy charges by the FBI Quad Cities Federal Gang Task Force, including the Rock Island Police Department and the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department.

Chuck Beason, age 40, from Rock Island, Illinois was arrested at 930 6th Street, Rock Island, for Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine, in excess of 50 grams, and five counts of Distribution of Crack Cocaine.

Robert Lee Beason, Jr. age 50, from Rock Island, Illinois was arrested at 1118 10th Avenue, Rock Island, for Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine, in excess of 50 grams, and three counts of Distribution of Crack Cocaine.

A criminal complaint was filed in the United States District Court, Central District of Illinois on 02/21/2006, charging Chuck and Robert Jr. with conspiring to distribute in excess of 50 grams of crack cocaine between May, 2001 and February, 2006, in the Rock Island, Illinois area.

Both appeared yesterday in the United States District Court, Central District of Illinois, Rock Island, Illinois. Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.