Facing crack cocaine charges, Dorothy B. Richardson, 37, of Carbondale, had her first appearance in court Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Benton.

Richardson and her daughter Tenisa L. Richardson, 18, of Carbondale, have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The Richardsons’ were indicted Sept. 6 by a federal grand jury.

Michael Carr, of the United States Attorney’s Office Chief Criminal Division said, Dorothy Richardson appeared before Magistrate Judge Phillip Frazier Wednesday. Richardson will remain in jail. Her daughter Tenisa was released on $5,000 bail earlier with orders to appear in court.

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. The Richardsons’ have not plead guilty nor have they been found guilty, Carr said.

The Richardsons’ offenses carry a minimum penalty of five years imprisonment. The maximum penalty they can get is 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,000,000 and a term of four years supervised release.

Joel V. Merkel, assistant United States attorney, said the next court date for Dorothy Richardson has been set for Nov. 20 at the federal

courthouse in Benton with presiding Chief Judge J. Phil Gilbert.

Carr said a new court date for Tenisa Richardson has not been set.

The Richardsons’ violations took place sometime between Nov. 1994 and Aug. 24, 1995 in Jackson County. The investigation was conducted by the Carbondale Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to a press release by the United States Attorney’s Office.

The case is being handled by Amanda A. Robertson, assistant United States attorney, who was unavailable for comment Thursday.

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