UPDATED: Judge rejects State’s bond request after $900K drug bust

Posted on June 14, 2019
Amber Widner
Amber Widner of Bozeman, Montana is being held in the McLean County on a $75,035 cash bond. (Illinois State Police photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A Montana woman remained jailed in McLean County Friday night even though a judge rejected the prosecution’s recommendation to set a much higher bond.

Illinois State Police arrested Amber Widner, 36, of Bozeman, Montana on Wednesday after police said they seized 143 pounds of marijuana, 14 pounds of mushrooms, and nine pounds of cannabis wax in her sport utility vehicle that a trooper stopped on Interstate 74, near south Bloomington.

Prosecutors said the drugs have a street value of $900,000, and Widner allegedly had $16,000 in suspected drug money.

Widner will have to post $75,035 to be released on bond after appearing before Associate Judge Pablo Eves.

Prosecutors asked for Widner to be held on a much higher $750,000 cash bond because she has no local ties, and the high-priced street value of the drugs.

To be released, Widner would have to show her bond money is not obtained from illegal sources, like drug trafficking.

She faces mandatory prison time of 6 to 60 years in prison, with no chance for probation, if convicted of the most serious charges.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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