EAST ST. LOUIS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced Wednesday that an Alorton man has been arrested and charged in connection with two recent armed robberies,  including one in Salem.

Algernon C. Perkins appeared in federal court Tuesday on two counts interference with commerce by robbery — one for the alleged armed robbery of the Cash Store in Salem and one for the alleged armed robbery of the Cash Store in Highland.. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.

In addition to the Salem and Highland robberies, Perkins is believed to have been involved in an armed robbery of the Cash Store in Taylorville.

Perkins was reportedly arrested last Wednesday. Information about where Perkins was taken into custody and what led up to his arresthas not been released.

The investigation that led to Perkins’ arrest was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives , the Salem Police Department,  Highland Police Department,  Taylorville Police Department, and the US Marshals Service.