FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS • Twenty-three people, most from the St. Louis area, have been indicted for their roles in what the U.S. attorney's office in Fairview Heights called "a major cocaine distribution organization."

All of the suspects are from the Metro East, St. Louis or St. Louis County except for four men from the Chicago area and one from California, federal prosecutors said. The indictment says the suspects distributed cocaine in St. Clair, Madison counties and in Missouri between April 2008 and this month.