Authorities have arrested twelve men in connection with a major drug bust in Knox County.  The men were indicted federally for conspiracy to distribute more than a ton of marijuana into Knox County over the last twenty years.  The arrests were conducted in Knox, Warren, Fulton and McLean counties as part of operation Western Wind .  The investigation into the case started between three and four years ago.  The men allegedly distributed more than 2,200 pounds of cannabis between 1992 and 2009. Authorities have not released how the bust took place. They each face a single count of conspiracy and  If they are convicted, they each will face a minimum of 10 years of prison time.
Those arrested include:

Bud Steele, 42, Roseville

Chad D. Hopkins, 38, Lewistown

Corey N. Storm, 38, Gilson

Eric M. Littlefield, 40, Galesburg

Gerald A. Clarke, 40, Altona

Kenyon D. Shepard, 45, Monmouth

Anthony M. Miller, 41, Abingdon

Doug E. Charles, 41, originally from Galesburg but currently in custody in the Illinois Department of Corrections

Rodney G. Dawson, 41, Galesburg

Gerald L. Morrell, 47, London Mills

Bryan L. Campbell, 43, Monmouth

Sean H. Hartshorn, 40, Galesburg