CENTRALIA, IL — Multiple people were arrested Wednesday when the Centralia Police Department conducted a search of a known drug house in the 600 block of East Seventh Street.
According to Police Chief Greg Dodson, one person, 53-year-old John Fodero, of 611 East Seventh Street was arrested on a federal warrant charging him with maintaining a Drug Involved Premise.
Dodson says the residence has been the source of continuous drug trafficking complaints by area residents and for the past several months numerous arrests have been made of subject going and coming from the residence on foot and in vehicles during that time as well as numerous overdose calls.
Over the past year the department has responded to the address for over 12 opioid overdose calls and 94 calls for police service since January of 2020.
Wednesday’s search was conducted at approximately 1:45 in the afternoon. During the search, investigators reportedly located 30 capsules of suspected Fentanyl and a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Charges are being filed with the Marion Co States Attorney against Jeremy Clark and Leanna Williams of Centralia for possession of a Controlled substance with intent to deliver within a 1000 feet of a school.
Five other subjects who were on scene staying at the residence were taken into custody, two subjects were arrested on outstanding Marion and Clinton county warrants, Allan Crain, 30, of Centralia and Leanna Williams, 36, of Hoffman were transported to the Marion and Clinton county jails respectively.
Three other subjects, Elexis Gibson, 21, of Centralia, Richard Atchison, 27, of Odin, and Travis Wooters, 31, of Centralia all were being sought by the Centralia Police Department on other pending charges. They were taken into custody and later released.
The Centralia Police Code Enforcement as well as the Fire Department were called to the scene and multiple code and fire violations were identified and written up.
14 people not related to each other were identified as living in the single family residence including occupying a storage shed as a living space and also in a detached garage.
The Centralia Police Department has utilized its drug house ordinance to prohibit occupancy until the residence is deemed safe to occupy.
On February 26th 2021 The Centralia Police Department executed a search warrant at this residence after an ongoing drug investigation that identified the residence as a hub of drug activity and congregating point for drug users who used the residence as a flop house to consume drugs.
After conducting the search warrant in February, the department compiled all of the criminal as well as EMS calls relating to overdose reports and forwarded them to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern district of Illinois.
After receiving all of the reports, a Grand Jury was convened and Fodero was indicted federally for maintaining a Drug Involved Premises.
These measures were taken to address the quality of life impact that premises was causing for all of the surrounding residents in the area.
Fodero was transported to the Marion County Jail where he will be held until being brought before a Federal Judge on the charges.