Central District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Springfield Felon Sentenced to 70 months in Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Kevin Gladney, 33, was sentenced on August 18, 2026, to 70 months imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and statements in court, in February 2022, Gladney possessed a stolen .45 caliber semi-automatic firearm, which included a shoulder brace, among other modifications; that firearm and a drum magazine were loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition. The firearm was recovered after Gladney threw it from the car he was driving as he fled from police before ultimately crashing his vehicle. Gladney’s DNA was located on the firearm by forensic scientists with the Illinois State Police.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough found that Gladney was eligible for an obstruction of justice sentencing enhancement due to his flight from police during the traffic stop that led to his arrest. Judge Myerscough noted that Gladney’s reckless driving and flight from police placed police officers and the public at risk.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Gladney in July 2023, and he was arrested in Texas in July 2024. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest. He pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long in April 2026.
The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a felon are up to 15 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The Springfield Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.
Pair from Galesburg Sentenced for Trafficking in Methamphetamine and MarijuanaRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Two individuals from Galesburg, Illinois, Jordan Eskridge, 31, and Breana Crider, 28, were sentenced on August 12, 2026, for conspiring to traffic in and trafficking in methamphetamine and marijuana, and Eskridge was also sentenced for possessing a firearm as a felon. Eskridge was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Crider was sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow, the evidence showed that Eskridge and Crider conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. During the law enforcement investigation, officers located 3,821 grams of methamphetamine and 497.8 grams of marijuana, along with two firearms. At the time, Eskridge was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Eskridge and Crider in May 2025. Eskridge has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest that month. Crider was released on bond with conditions in June 2025 but was later arrested and taken into custody in April 2026 due to violation of conditions.
Eskridge and Crider each pleaded guilty to two counts involving conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and marijuana and possession with intent to distribute both substances. Eskridge also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon.
The statutory penalties for possessing 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine are 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by at least five years of supervised release, and a potential fine of up to $10 million dollars. The statutory penalties for possessing less than 50 kilograms of marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana are not more than 5 years’ imprisonment, followed by at least two years of supervised release, and a potential fine of up to $250,000 dollars. The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are up to 15 years of imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
Members of the Galesburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Searle represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Eskridge and Crider is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Danville Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Multiple Drug Charges, Including Drug-Induced HomicideRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Danville, Illinois, man, Marcus “Slim” McKinney, 50, was sentenced on August 14, 2026, to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on three drug trafficking charges, including his involvement in a drug conspiracy that resulted in the overdose death of Maggie Avelar on August 19, 2023, and the overdose of another victim who suffered serious bodily harm on April 15, 2023. McKinney was also sentenced to forty years of imprisonment on another drug trafficking charge and twenty years of imprisonment on separate charges for maintaining drug-involved premises, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce, the judge considered evidence from McKinney’s November 2025 jury trial showing that McKinney was released by the federal Bureau of Prisons to an address on South State Street in Danville, Illinois, on April 6, 2023, on conditions of home confinement, including location monitoring with an ankle monitor. From that date until his arrest in Springfield, Illinois, on June 26, 2024, McKinney conspired with others to distribute crystal methamphetamine (“ice”), cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, including exchanging the drugs with women for sex. The jury found that over the weekend of April 15, 2023, McKinney distributed an opioid to a woman who overdosed and would have died if not treated with Narcan, an opioid reversal agent, by the Danville Fire Department and paramedics with Arrow Ambulance. McKinney had falsely told the woman the substance only contained cocaine. The trial evidence showed that same weekend three other people overdosed on drugs provided by McKinney, including another fatal overdose. McKinney continued using the South State Street residence for the use and distribution of illegal drugs until he moved to Kentucky Avenue in Danville later that summer.
The trial evidence further established that McKinney used the premises on Kentucky Avenue to continue his ongoing drug conspiracy, including using and distributing drugs from the residence. The trial jury found that on August 19, 2023, McKinney distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl – a mixture McKinney referred to as a “Hot Shot” – to Avelar, resulting in her death at the Kentucky Avenue home. The next morning, McKinney and his brother, James “Brownski” Young, engaged in obstruction of justice by lying to the Danville Police Department about the circumstances surrounding Avelar’s death to attempt to avoid law enforcement learning about McKinney’s true involvement in the overdose. A DVR surveillance system seized from the residence and played at trial showed McKinney and Young discussing their plan to mislead the police and then their subsequent lies. Young was previously sentenced to 68 months of imprisonment for obstruction of justice, as well as his own drug trafficking activities.
In September of 2023, the Bureau of Prisons required McKinney to go to a halfway house located in Springfield, Illinois, due to violations of his conditions of home confinement in Danville. McKinney continued his drug distribution conspiracy in Springfield, including distributing over one pound of methamphetamine to a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential source on June 20, 2024. Six days later, DEA agents seized over two pounds of methamphetamine and over five kilograms of cocaine from storage lockers in Springfield that McKinney had opened under the confidential source’s name. The jury further found that McKinney engaged in witness tampering in January of 2025 while his federal charges were pending, when he wrote a letter to a potential witness urging her to contact McKinney’s attorney and falsely say that other witnesses were lying about McKinney’s drug activities and were trying to get her to lie as well.
At Friday’s sentencing hearing, Maggie Avelar’s sister addressed McKinney, telling him “You robbed [Maggie’s’s] parents of their daughter, her siblings of their sister, her nieces and nephews of their aunt, and most importantly, you robbed her son of his mother. . . . She was the person I looked up to as a little girl – the one who brushed my hair, cooked me dinner, and comforted me when I needed it most. She was a loving mother to the luckiest boy, a boy who has been robbed of the honor of having his mother here today.”
In requesting a life sentence, the United States stressed that McKinney had five prior felony drug trafficking convictions, including two prior federal convictions, and that McKinney was still completing a previously imposed eight-year federal drug trafficking sentence and wearing an ankle location monitor when he committed these numerous crimes, which resulted in multiple overdoses, including the death of Avelar. The United States also argued that McKinney had never apologized to or expressed remorse for all the people his crimes had hurt.
At sentencing, Judge Bruce overruled McKinney’s objection to the mandatory life sentence, finding that he was required to impose a life sentence based on McKinney’s drug conspiracy conviction, his prior felony drug offenses, and the jury findings that McKinney distributed drugs that resulted in serious bodily injury and death. In imposing three life sentences for three of McKinney’s drug trafficking convictions, Judge Bruce noted that McKinney’s conduct showed that he “doesn’t care” about his crimes or the people he hurt.
“Opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl, pose an extreme peril to human life. The defendant’s distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine secretly mixed with fentanyl resulted in multiple overdose deaths and shows a chilling disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “Our office is dedicated to pursing justice for victims of drug trafficking and to protecting our communities from those, like the defendant, who seek to sow harm. We are grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their invaluable work on this case.”
“Marcus McKinney turned addiction into a business model and human life into collateral damage,” said Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “Even while under federal supervision, he pushed poison into our communities, left victims and families devastated, and then tried to obstruct justice. HSI and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue those who profit from addiction, violence, and death, and we will not stop until they are held accountable.”
The case investigation was conducted by the Danville Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; the Illinois State Police; the Springfield Police Department; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the United States at trial and sentencing.
Repeat Human Smuggler Pleads Guilty to Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Mexican national, Aureliano Vazquez-Ontiberos, 43, pleaded guilty on August 12, 2026, to being unlawfully present in the United States following a prior removal.
In court before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, Vazquez-Ontiberos admitted that he had unlawfully returned to the United States following a prior removal and that law enforcement encountered him during a traffic stop in Sangamon County in May 2026. Vazquez-Ontiberos admitted that he had twice been convicted of human smuggling offenses in federal courts, once in 2011 in the Southern District of Texas and once in 2016 in the Western District of Texas. During the hearing, the government presented evidence that Vazquez-Ontiberos’ criminal history contained an aggravated felony, human smuggling, which garners enhanced criminal penalties.
Vazquez-Ontiberos remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending a sentencing hearing that is scheduled for December 8, 2026, at the federal courthouse in Springfield, Illinois.
Vazquez-Ontiberos faces statutory penalties of up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The case investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Lynch is representing the government in the prosecution.
Defendant Sentenced to 135 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawful Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Darrell J. Lindsey, 44, formerly of Peoria, Illinois, was sentenced on August 6, 2026, to 135 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, law enforcement began an investigation into Lindsey’s methamphetamine trafficking in August 2020. That same month, law enforcement seized approximately 52 grams of methamphetamine and multiple firearms and ammunition while executing a search warrant on Lindsey’s residence in Peoria. While Lindsey was out of state, he also shipped methamphetamine to individuals in Peoria. Additionally, Lindsey was implicated in the March 2021 seizure of approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine from a Morton, Illinois, hotel room.
In total, between August 2020 and May 2021, Lindsey was accountable for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a total of 69,281 kilograms of converted drug weight, which included 145.5 grams of methamphetamine and 3,449.5 grams of methamphetamine (actual).
In sentencing Lindsey, U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley determined that a sentencing enhancement for possession of a firearm during the commission of the offense applied.
A federal indictment against Lindsey was filed in March 2024 and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was arrested in the state of Washington on unrelated state charges in April 2024 and was returned to the state of Illinois for federal prosecution. Lindsey entered into a written plea agreement in January 2026. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) is 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by at least five years of supervised release. A fine of up to 10 million dollars is also possible.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, assisted by the Peoria, Morton, Pekin (Illinois), Bloomington (Illinois), and Aberdeen (Washington) police departments, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Lindsey is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Two Henry County Men Sentenced for Distributing and Possessing with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Two Henry County, Illinois, men, Christopher Woods (age 54), and Evan Norberg (age 31) were sentenced on August 5, 2026, for their roles in possessing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver and delivering methamphetamine to others. Christopher Woods was sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment to be followed by ten years of supervised release. Evan Norberg was sentenced to 138 months’ imprisonment followed by eight years of supervised release.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow, the evidence showed that both Woods and Norberg delivered methamphetamine to others in and around the Henry County, Illinois, area for financial gain and that Norberg possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. Woods also obtained methamphetamine in California used the U.S. Postal Service to mail the substance to other individuals, including Norberg, in the Central District of Illinois. Both Woods and Norberg have prior convictions related to methamphetamine trafficking.
In pronouncing the sentences, the Court noted the seriousness of these offenses stating that methamphetamine infects every fiber of the community and negatively affects children, employers, and the community.
Christopher Woods and Evan Norberg were indicted on December 17, 2024. They both have remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since their arrests in 2025.
The statutory penalties for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine for a person with a prior conviction for a serious drug felony is 10 to 40 years’ imprisonment, followed by at least 8 years of supervised release and a possible fine of up to $10,000,000. The penalties for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine for a person with a prior conviction for a serious drug felony are 15 years to life imprisonment, 10 years of supervised release, and a possible fine of up to $20,000,000. The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Office Inspection Service, Kewanee, Illinois, Police Department, Blackhawk Area Task Force, and the Henry County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Searle represented the government in the prosecution.
Convicted Sex Offender Receives an Additional 48 Month Sentence for Possession of Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Nashville, Tennessee man, Joseph Nichols, 42, who is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (“FCI”) in Pekin, has been sentenced to an additional 48 months’ imprisonment for possession of contraband in prison.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Nichols was convicted of receipt, possession and distribution of child pornography in 2016 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and was sentenced to 216 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In June 2025, Nichols was transferred to FCI-Pekin from another federal prison. Upon his arrival at FCI-Pekin, staff located a razor blade and images of Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”) that were hidden in a prison-issued hearing aid case marked with Nichol’s name. Both the images and razor are prohibited items in federal prisons.
Nichols pled guilty in March 2026 to a two-count Information filed in U. S. District Court in Peoria. Judge Hawley noted that possessing CSAM and other prohibited items is a serious offense. Nichols was sentenced to an additional 48 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively to the child pornography sentence he is currently serving.
The statutory penalties for possession of contraband, that included the razor blade contraband, are not more than 5 years imprisonment, followed by not more than 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The penalties for the possession of contraband that included the Child Sexual Abuse Materials are not more than 6 months imprisonment, followed by up to 1 year of supervised release, and up to a $5000 fine.
The case was investigated by Special Investigative Services of FCI Pekin and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
Fugitive for 15 Years Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Twenty Counts Related to Tax Evasion and Structuring Financial TransactionsRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Jalal Nimer Asad, 62, of Lindenhurst, Illinois, was sentenced to five years in the Bureau of Prisons and ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution and a forfeiture judgement of more than $4 million for his role in two different but related criminal conspiracies at multiple businesses within the Central District of Illinois involving tax evasion; mail fraud; and the structuring financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements.
In 2009, a federal grand jury returned indictments against Asad and multiple co-defendants in two separate cases. The other defendants were convicted or pleaded guilty years ago, but Asad remained at large overseas for 15 years until his return to the United States in 2023 to stand trial.
In September 2025, Asad was convicted on all charged counts following a jury trial. Over seven days of testimony, the government presented evidence establishing that Asad led a group of individuals that owned and operated several convenience and liquor stores in Decatur, Illinois, and Peoria, Illinois. During trial, the government established that Asad and his cohorts kept two sets of books, a true set and a false set, in order to underreport their earnings and pay less in federal, state, and local taxes. The government also presented evidence that Asad structured financial transactions to withdraw more than $4 million in cash without triggering the bank’s reporting requirements. The trial evidence showed that Asad caused much of that cash to be transported overseas.
At the sentencing hearing on July 9, 2026, the government presented evidence that Asad had been living in the West Bank as a fugitive from these charges for 15 years. The government also presented evidence that, while Asad had claimed to have significant financial resources prior to his conviction, he claimed at sentencing to have no resources, bank accounts, or assets. At the hearing, U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley found that there was no doubt that Asad was the manager or supervisor of these illegal schemes. Judge Hawley further noted that the more than $1 million that Asad failed to pay in federal taxes was money that ultimately belonged to every American and was designed to support everything from the military to school lunches for children.
Asad will remain on bond until his reporting date this fall. The statutory maximum penalties for the offenses of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate its tax laws, tax evasion, conspiracy to structure financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, and structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements are no more than five years in prison, three years supervised release, a fine of up to twice the pecuniary gain, and restitution. The statutory maximum penalties for mail fraud are no more than twenty years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to twice the pecuniary gain, and restitution.
“Asad’s successful prosecution after 15 years in self-imposed exile demonstrates that a defendant should not expect to avoid responsibility for his crimes by fleeing prosecution,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “The dedicated law enforcement officers who work these cases are committed to ensuring that justice delayed is not justice denied.”
“Jalal Asad didn’t just flee the country. He fled accountability,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “While honest, hardworking individuals earn a living and play by the rules, criminals like Asad steal from the very system those taxpayers support. Running may delay justice, but it doesn’t erase it, and IRS Criminal Investigation and its fellow law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who think a border is enough to escape the consequences of their crimes.”
“The FBI will not allow individuals to escape the consequences of their actions by fleeing the country,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “For years, Mr. Asad deliberately evaded his duty to report income and pay required taxes, and he attempted to sidestep federal reporting laws by structuring millions of dollars in cash withdrawals. His return to the United States and subsequent conviction demonstrate that avoiding lawful obligations is not a path to evading accountability. The FBI remains steadfast in working with our partners to ensure that those who choose to ignore their financial responsibilities do not escape the consequences of that choice.”
The case investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and was carried out with the support of local law enforcement partners, including the Decatur Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Eugene L. Miller and Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government at trial and sentencing.
Chicago-Area Gun and Drug Trafficker Resentenced to Forty Years in Prison for Firearms and Drug Offenses in East Central IllinoisRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Markham, Illinois, man, Deon Evans, 42, was sentenced on July 13, 2026, to forty years and eight months’ imprisonment in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for trafficking heroin and methamphetamine, carrying and possessing a firearm during his drug trafficking crimes, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
At the resentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Evans faced a mandatory consecutive twenty-five-year sentence for his offense of carrying a firearm while distributing heroin and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his possession of methamphetamine (“ecstasy”) with the intent to distribute it. Judge Bruce further determined that Evans was involved in the trafficking of at least eight to twenty-four firearms and found that Evans had obstructed justice by providing false testimony during his case. Evans faced an enhanced sentence because he was on federal supervised release at the time of his offenses from a 2007 conviction for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in the Southern District of Iowa.
Evans was originally convicted following a jury trial in January 2020. During the three-day trial, the government presented evidence that, in July 2016, Evans traveled from his residence in Markham to a gas station in Gilman, Illinois, where he sold 48.4 grams of heroin in exchange for $4,500. In August 2016, Evans again traveled to the gas station to meet the same buyer, this time bringing an associate and two loaded firearms. During this meeting, Evans sold 124.3 grams of heroin for $11,250.
After the August 2016 heroin sale, Evans was stopped by troopers with the Illinois State Police on Interstate 57. Troopers searched Evans’ vehicle and found the cash hidden under the back seat, two fully loaded firearms, an extra magazine, and 173 ecstasy pills that contained methamphetamine. The trial evidence established that Evans obtained one of those firearms, a Glock, Model 30, .45 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, by trading two grams of heroin and $100 in exchange for the gun. It was also established that the firearm had been stolen from Indiana. Additional evidence showed that Evans used two individuals, known as “straw purchasers”, to purchase fourteen guns for him in Birmingham, Alabama, which he then sold illegally in Chicago. Some of the firearms were later recovered after they were used in violent crimes.
Judge Bruce originally sentenced Evans in January of 2022. Following an appeal, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the case for an evidentiary hearing to determine if Evans’s trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective, and for resentencing. Judge Bruce determined that Evans’s trial counsel did not provide ineffective assistance before proceeding to resentencing. Judge Bruce ordered the new sentence to be served consecutively to Evans’s 27-month sentence of imprisonment imposed in the Southern District of Iowa for violating his conditions of federal supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Chicago Division, Springfield Resident Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Springfield, Illinois, and Birmingham Field Offices; and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government throughout the case.
Rantoul Man Charged with Making Threatening Interstate CommunicationRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A grand jury today indicted Kevin Baskis, 37, of Rantoul, Illinois, on two counts of allegedly making threatening interstate communications.
The indictment alleges that on June 29 and 30, 2026, Baskis made interstate phone calls from Rantoul to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, threatening to injure U.S. military personnel and their families.
Baskis was arrested on July 1, 2026, and remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long today ordered that he be detained pending trial.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for each of the charged counts are a maximum five years of imprisonment; maximum $250,000 fine; maximum three years of supervised release; and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and Rantoul Police Department. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene Miller is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Peoria Felon Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Two Counts of Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Felipe L. Hernandez, 32, was sentenced on June 26, 2026, to 120 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, for two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. The sentence for each count is to be served concurrently.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, the evidence showed Hernandez delivered methamphetamine on two occasions between June 11th and July 23, 2025, and then delivered a look-alike substance on a third sale. Hernandez was arrested on September 17, 2025, and found to be in possession of additional narcotics. In total, Hernandez was accountable for the unlawful distribution of 28 grams of methamphetamine, 66.9 grams of methamphetamine (actual), .5 grams of oxycodone (actual), and 9.8 grams of cocaine base, resulting in 1,432.34 kilograms of converted drug weight.
Hernandez was indicted for one count of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of 50 grams of more methamphetamine. He entered a guilty plea in February 2026 and has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest. Hernandez had prior criminal convictions that included armed robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.
The statutory penalties for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine are 5 to 40 years imprisonment, followed by at least 4 years of supervised release and a possible fine of up to $5,000,000. Penalties for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are 10 years to life imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release sentence and a possible fine of up to $10,000,000.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Springfield Resident Office, Peoria Police Department, and Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group (“PMEG”) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Hernandez is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Vermilion County Woman Fined and Sentenced to Probation for Voting Twice in Federal ElectionRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Hoopeston, Illinois, woman, Brenda Knuth, 61, was sentenced on June 26, 2026, to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine for voting twice in a federal election.
On January 30, 2026, Knuth pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long in Urbana, Illinois, to voting more than once in a federal election. Knuth admitted that she voted early in the November 2024 general election and then voted on election day as well. Candidates for federal office were on the ballot in the 2024 general election. After Knuth voted on election day, she posted on Facebook that she “tested the system and it failed.” Knuth later admitted to a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that she voted twice because she wanted to see if her early vote counted. She admitted that she did not speak with any election official about her prior vote, confirm with anyone whether her early vote counted, or notify the clerk’s office that she voted twice. She acknowledged that she knew that, by voting early, she was not allowed to vote a second time in the same election.
At the sentencing hearing, it was determined that Knuth’s only prior conviction was in Vermilion County, Illinois, in 2025 for unlawful possession of an alligator. After hearing arguments from the parties, United States District Judge Colin S. Bruce sentenced Knuth to three years of probation and a $2,500 fine.
“The right to vote is a fundamental part of our democracy,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “Abuse of that right cannot be tolerated. Our office is committed to ensuring the integrity of our federal elections and preventing voter fraud.”
“Protecting the integrity of federal elections is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. Every lawful vote has to be counted, and counted only once, for our system to function,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “When individuals knowingly cast multiple ballots, they undermine confidence in the process and violate federal law. This case demonstrates that the FBI will investigate these violations wherever they occur and work with our partners to ensure accountability.”
The statutory penalties for voting more than once in a federal election are up to five years of imprisonment or probation and a $10,000 fine.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the Illinois State Police. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government at sentencing.
Pekin Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Mark Steven Peterson, 42, was sentenced on June 18, 2026, to 120 months in federal prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor. Peterson is also required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, the evidence showed that in April 2025, Peterson engaged in multiple online conversations with a person he believed to be a stepfather of a 10-year-old female, discussing specific sexual acts he would like to perform, he then scheduled a meeting to engage in those acts. Peterson traveled from Pekin to Peoria for the purpose of having a sexual encounter with the minor stepdaughter and was subsequently arrested by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Peterson in May 2025, and he was released on bond with conditions in July 2025. In August 2025, Peterson was arrested for a violation of his pre-trial release and pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor in December 2025. Peterson has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in August 2025.
The statutory penalties for attempted enticement of a minor include a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, five years to life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Peterson was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Peoria Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Matthew T. Cosey, 32, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on June 18, 2026, for trafficking in methamphetamine. Cosey was convicted of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and received concurrent sentences on each count, followed by concurrent three-year terms of supervised release.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, the evidence showed that Cosey delivered methamphetamine on two occasions in January 2023 in Tazewell County, Illinois. Law enforcement arrested Cosey after the second sale. In total, Cosey was responsible for the unlawful delivery of 167.2 grams of methamphetamine (mixture and substance).
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Cosey in February 2023. Cosey pleaded guilty in January 2026.
The statutory penalties for distribution of methamphetamine are not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a three-year term of supervised release, and up to a $1,000,000 fine.
Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Springfield, Illinois, Resident Office; Illinois State Police (“ISP”) Central Illinois Enforcement Group; ISP Silver SWAT; ISP Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group, and the Peoria Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
Two Galesburg Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Methamphetamine and Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Two Galesburg, Illinois, men, Juan Pablo Garcia, aka “Chewy” (age 30), and Edgar Calderon, aka “Lil Man” (age 34), were sentenced on June 15, 2026, following their convictions for trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine. Garcia was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Calderon was sentenced to 27.5 years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
At the jury trial earlier this year, the government presented evidence showing that beginning in the spring and continuing through the fall of 2024, Garcia and Calderon conspired with one another and others to source kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine from Texas and bring the drugs back to Galesburg for distribution. During the conspiracy, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled buys from Garcia and one controlled buy from Calderon. In addition to the evidence of drug trafficking in the Galesburg area, the government also presented evidence regarding a traffic stop connected to the conspiracy in Nacogdoches County, Texas, where approximately 9.8 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine were seized.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow, the Court found that firearms were possessed during the conspiracy and that both men tampered with witnesses. Additionally, the Court found that Garcia created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury when he fled from officers in his vehicle after they attempted to arrest him in relation to these charges. In pronouncing Garcia and Calderon’s sentences, the Court noted that this was a large-scale enterprise responsible for trafficking considerable amounts of narcotics in the relatively small community of Galesburg. During the hearing, the Court conveyed the devastation that methamphetamine causes in communities and the positive impact that removing large-scale drug traffickers, such as Garcia and Calderon, can have.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in January 2025 charging Garcia and Calderon with conspiracy to distribute and posses with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. They were detained pending trial, and both have remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since their arrest.
Robert Joseph Strong, also of Galesburg, was involved in the conspiracy as well and pleaded guilty prior to trial. Strong received a sentence of 240 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine are at least ten years but not more than life imprisonment, at least five years but up to a life term of supervised release, and a fine up to $10,000,000.
The case investigation was conducted by the Knox County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the Galesburg Police Department; the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Searle and Jennifer L. Mathew represented the United States.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Peyton C. Dagenais, 29, was sentenced on June 11, 2026, to 204 months in prison, to be followed by a 15-year term of supervised release, for distribution and possession of child pornography. Restitution was ordered for each of the victims in the case.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Dagenais had a long history of child pornography possession and distribution and that his behavior had escalated to possessing physical items related to his sexual interest in children and expressed a desire to rape a child.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless described the number of images possessed by Dagenais as rather extraordinary and said that the images were egregious. Judge Lawless also noted the defendant’s escalation in conduct and emphasized the need to protect the public from further acts of the defendant in crafting her sentence.
In February 2026, Dagenais pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Dagenais remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service where he has been since his arrest in September 2025.
The statutory penalties for distribution of child pornography are not less than five years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, five years to a life term of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.“Any individual who shares, receives, and possesses child sexual abuse material contributes to the irreparable harm suffered by these victims,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “This behavior poses a risk to all children as these predators constantly seek new images and that desire creates a greater risk of potential hands-on offenses.”
“This case highlights the reality of how digital exploitation can escalate into an imminent physical threat to children,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “By intercepting this defendant before his expressed desires turned into physical violence, we successfully protected the community from a dangerous predator. This lengthy sentence ensures that the defendant can no longer exploit children or threaten their safety. The FBI and our partners will remain relentless in pursuing these predators and ensuring they face justice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case with assistance from the Lewiston, Maine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Dagenais was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Athens Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Athens, Illinois, man, Christopher Wagy, 28, was sentenced on June 9, 2026, to 28 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Wagy had purchased multiple cellular phones for a minor child in another state and directed her to take explicit photos of herself. Wagy then shared those images on the internet. The government also noted that Wagy continued this conduct despite attempted intervention by the victim’s family and law enforcement.
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless found that Wagy’s clear pattern of behavior showed he presented a risk of reoffending and that the sentence imposed was necessary to protect the public.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Wagy in July 2025, and he pleaded guilty to all four counts of the indictment in December 2025.
The statutory penalties for sexual exploitation of a child are 15 to 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are five to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
“A sentence of 28 years ensures that this defendant will not be able to prey upon other young children,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “While no sentence can undo what has happened to these victims, our Office will continue to seek justice by prosecuting those who take advantage of our most vulnerable population.”
“This defendant went to great lengths to target and manipulate a vulnerable child despite repeated warnings from law enforcement and the victim's family,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Preseley. “A 28-year sentence ensures that his defiant and predatory behavior is permanently halted. This case is a powerful example of how the FBI works seamlessly with our partners throughout the United States to protect children, no matter where the predator is located.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case along with Goodyear Arizona Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Maryland. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner K. Jacobs and Mary Beth Rodgers represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Wagy was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Jacksonville Chiropractor Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Healthcare Fraud and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Sean Rondeau, a 56-year-old chiropractor in Jacksonville, Illinois, was sentenced today to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding health insurance companies of more than a quarter million dollars. His convictions include healthcare fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and five counts of wire fraud.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Rondeau had submitted more than 2,000 separate fraudulent claims. The government noted that each of these fraudulent submissions were the result of an intentional choice by Rondeau and required his direct action. When Rondeau learned he was under investigation, he leveraged his relationships with his clients to convince them to sign false documents in an attempt to hide what he had done.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless noted that Rondeau committed these crimes after he had previously been caught committing fraud more than a decade ago. Judge Lawless found that Rondeau continued submitting false claims even after he knew he was being investigated for the current fraud. The judge ordered Rondeau to pay more than $268,000 in restitution.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Rondeau in August 2024, and he pleaded guilty to all nine counts in December 2025.
The statutory penalties for healthcare fraud are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalties for mail fraud and wire fraud are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government in the prosecution.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Ford County Man Sentenced to Additional 21 Months in Prison for Mailing Threats to Prior VictimRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Roberts, Illinois, man, Paul Theesfield, 41, of the 200 block of Maple Avenue, was sentenced June 8, 2026, to 21 months of imprisonment for mailing a threatening communication. The sentence will be served consecutively to the twelve-year sentence he is currently serving for attempted kidnapping.
On February 5, 2026, Theesfield pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long to mailing a threatening communication to a victim in Gibson City, Illinois, on October 3, 2023. The long and graphic letter threatened to harm the victim’s husband and sexually assault the victim. Theesfield mailed the letter from the Bureau of Prisons Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, where he is serving a federal sentence for attempted kidnapping.
The victim of the threatening letter was the same woman Theesfield had attempted to kidnap on December 5, 2020. On that day, Theesfield repeatedly drove past the intended victim in Gibson City using his SUV to strike the woman from behind, attempting to incapacitate her and kidnap her. The woman recognized Theesfield and screamed for help, causing him to flee the scene. Theesfield and his vehicle were later found at his residence by a Ford County Deputy. After initially telling authorities he accidentally struck the woman, Theesfield admitted his kidnapping plan and was arrested. The Ford County Sheriff later seized handcuffs, wire rope chokers, zip ties, duct tape, an electric cattle prod, and other items from Theesfield’s place of employment.
At the sentencing hearing, the government also noted Theesfield committed a similar uncharged attempted kidnapping on September 25, 2009, in Champaign, Illinois. On that date, he struck a woman with his vehicle and physically attacked her while attempting to tie her up with a strap. The victim screamed and kicked eventually freeing herself. Theesfield left the scene and was not identified until after his arrest for the 2020 incident.
Theesfield’s 2020 victim presented a written statement during the sentencing hearing that detailed the additional trauma from his threatening letter. U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce rejected Theesfield’s request for a concurrent sentence of imprisonment and imposed the 21-month sentence consecutively, as requested by the government. In doing so, Judge Bruce agreed with the government’s arguments that a consecutive sentence was necessary to deter Theesfield and to protect the public from further crimes by Theesfield. The statutory penalty for mailing a threatening communication is up to five years of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.
Gregory M. Gilmore Is Sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of IllinoisRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Gregory M. Gilmore was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois by United States Magistrate Judge Douglas J. Quivey on June 1, 2026, at the federal courthouse in Springfield, Illinois.
U.S. Attorney Gilmore was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on January 13, 2026, and confirmed by the United States Senate on May 18, 2026. President Trump signed Gilmore’s commission on May 27, 2026. Gilmore is the thirty-third U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. The first was William J. Allen in 1855; Allen served in what was then known as the Southern District prior to District reorganizations within Illinois.
“As a longtime federal prosecutor, it is my honor to serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois,” Gilmore said. “Our Office’s mission is to do justice, ensure community safety, and safeguard the rights of victims. I consider myself fortunate to lead excellent attorneys and support staff across our District as we work with our law enforcement partners to achieve these goals, and I know I have benefited from observing and learning from those who led the Office before me. The Central District of Illinois is a wonderful place to live and work; we will always work to improve to better serve our fellow citizens.”
Gilmore previously served as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, where he has worked since 1994. He has held various leadership positions in the Office, including First Assistant U.S. Attorney (2021 to 2025); Criminal Chief (2018 to 2021); Civil Chief (2013 to 2015); and Criminal Supervisor of the Springfield Division (2007 to 2010). As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Gilmore represented the government in a wide variety of criminal prosecutions and tried over 25 cases to jury verdict.
Prior to attending law school, Gilmore worked as a Certified Public Accountant at a big four accounting firm and for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Before joining the Office, Gilmore clerked for a state appellate court judge. Gilmore obtained his law degree from DePaul University where he was a member of the Law Review. He obtained his undergraduate degree from DePaul as well. Gilmore has lived in Central Illinois with his wife, Kelly, for more than thirty years, where they raised their three children.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Urbana Woman for Pandemic Era Unemployment Benefit FraudRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A federal grand jury indicted an Urbana woman, Titianna Ammons, of the 1100 block of North Busey Avenue, on three counts of wire fraud for allegedly defrauding the U.S. Department of Labor and Illinois Department of Employment Security from October of 2020 to October of 2021.
The indictment alleges that Ammons applied for and received unemployment insurance benefits from around October 24, 2020, until around September 10, 2021. Beginning in January of 2021, Ammons’s unemployment insurance benefits included approximately $300 extra per week in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits that were authorized and paid in connection with the presidentially declared major disaster and emergency proclamation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment alleges that, during the time Ammons was receiving unemployment insurance benefits, she worked for and received money from various entities, including as an elected District 11 representative on the Champaign County Board. Nonetheless, Ammons falsely certified to the Illinois Department of Employment Security that she did not work and did not receive any wages while receiving benefits. As a result, she received unemployment insurance benefits to which she was not entitled, according to the indictment.
Ammons was served with a summons to appear in federal court in Urbana for arraignment on June 11, 2026. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for each of the alleged crimes charged are a maximum of thirty years of imprisonment, a maximum five-year term of supervised release, a maximum $1 million fine, and restitution.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene Miller is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Kentro Taylor, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison following his conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana further sentenced Taylor to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered the firearm involved be forfeited.
On September 17, 2021, Taylor was the driver and sole occupant of a BMW vehicle that was involved in a collision in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During a lawful search of the BMW following the collision, a Smith and Wesson SD9 was found on top of the front passenger seat within the reach and eyesight of Taylor. The firearm was equipped with an extended magazine and loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition.
Pursuant to Rule 20 consent to transfer jurisdiction, Taylor pled guilty in the Middle District of Louisiana. According to admissions made during his plea, on October 7, 2020, Taylor was the driver of a Dodge Dart, that was lawfully stopped for a traffic violation by an Illinois State Police trooper on Interstate 57 in Douglas County, Illinois. During a lawful search of the Dart, the trooper located a Smith and Wesson SD9 inside a camouflage bag. The firearm, which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, and other contents of the camouflage bag belonged to Taylor.
For this conduct, Taylor was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison. This sentence was ordered to run concurrently with the sentence imposed for the charges in the Middle District of Louisiana. Taylor was previously convicted in the 19th Judicial District Court for East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, of two counts of attempted manslaughter in February 1992 - committed in May 1991 and August 1991, and armed robbery in April 1996. In July 2025, he was convicted in the 8th Judicial District Court for Clark County, Nevada, for attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon.
“Felons and firearms are a dangerous combination,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory M. Gilmore. “Prosecuting armed career criminals like the defendant for the unlawful possession of firearms is a critical part of our office’s commitment to public safety.”
“In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that ATF will continue to work alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure these repeat violent offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable so we can keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
“The defendant’s extensive violent criminal history and repeated unlawful possession of firearms demonstrate a continued disregard for the law and public safety,” stated ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “The lengthy sentence imposed in this case underscores the threat posed by armed career criminals. ATF does not stop at the state lines, and we remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold repeat violent offenders accountable.”
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois State Police, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Abad (MDLA) and William Lynch (CDIL) led the prosecutions.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Kentro Taylor, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison following his conviction of felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick further sentenced Taylor to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered the firearm involved be forfeited.
On September 17, 2021, Taylor was the driver and sole occupant of a BMW vehicle that was involved in a collision in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During a lawful search of the BMW following the collision, a Smith and Wesson SD9 was found on top of the front passenger seat within the reach and eyesight of Taylor. The firearm was equipped with an extended magazine and loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition.
Pursuant to Rule 20 consent to transfer jurisdiction, Taylor pled guilty in the Middle District of Louisiana. According to admissions made during his plea, on October 7, 2020, Taylor was the driver of a Dodge Dart, that was lawfully stopped for a traffic violation by an Illinois State Police trooper on Interstate 57 in Douglas County, Illinois. During a lawful search of the Dart, the trooper located a Smith and Wesson SD9 inside a camouflage bag. The firearm, which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, and other contents of the camouflage bag belonged to Taylor. For this conduct, Taylor was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison. This sentence was ordered to run concurrently with the sentence imposed for the charges in the Middle District of Louisiana.
Taylor was previously convicted in the 19th Judicial District Court for East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, of two counts of attempted manslaughter in February 1992 - committed in May 1991 and August 1991, and armed robbery in April 1996. In July 2025, he was convicted in the 8th Judicial District Court for Clark County, Nevada, for attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon.
“Felons and firearms are a dangerous combination,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory M. Gilmore. “Prosecuting armed career criminals like the defendant for the unlawful possession of firearms is a critical part of our office’s commitment to public safety.”
“In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that ATF will continue to work alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure these repeat violent offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable so we can keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
“The defendant’s extensive violent criminal history and repeated unlawful possession of firearms demonstrate a continued disregard for the law and public safety,” stated ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “The lengthy sentence imposed in this case underscores the threat posed by armed career criminals. ATF does not stop at the state lines, and we remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold repeat violent offenders accountable.”
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois State Police, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Abad (MDLA) and William Lynch (CDIL) led the prosecutions.
Peoria County Deputy Receives Hometown Hero AwardRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – As part of the United States Freedom 250 celebration, U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country have been honoring community members during the month of May. The honorees have shown exemplary service going above and beyond in their capacity as law enforcement, public safety, or victim support.
The Central District of Illinois has recognized Peoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Jack Evans who, on January 31, 2026, conducted a lawful traffic stop and subsequent foot pursuit of a fleeing suspect on West Garden Street in Peoria. During the pursuit, the suspect abruptly turned and fired multiple rounds at Deputy Evans at close range, striking him in the leg and torso.Despite being ambushed, wounded, and knocked to the ground, Deputy Evans remained composed and mission-focused, providing information to other law enforcement officers that helped lead to the suspect’s arrest. Deputy Evans’s commitment to protecting the community even while gravely injured reflects the highest traditions of law enforcement service. In honor of his steady professionalism while wounded, Deputy Evans accepted the Hometown Hero Award from Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore on May 18, 2026.
“Deputy Evans’s brave actions and commitment to public safety during a moment of personal peril made him a natural choice for the Hometown Hero Award,” said Acting United States Attorney Gilmore. “We are immensely grateful for his service and for his recovery.”
“Deputy Evans demonstrated true bravery under fire, and we’re thankful he continues to recover.” said Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins. “I want to thank Acting U.S. Attorney Gilmore for coming to Peoria to recognize his actions and present the Hometown Hero Award.”
Moline Man Sentenced to 96 months in Prison for Third Firearms FelonyRead the Press Release
Rock Island, Ill. – A Moline, Illinois, man, Donovan James Cartwright-Nye, 25, was sentenced on May 20, 2026, to 96 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At a sentencing hearing before United States District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, the government presented information that in December 2024, Cartwright-Nye traded drugs for a firearm with an obliterated serial number and the following day fired several shots at another person in Rock Island, Illinois. Cartwright-Nye then fled the scene in his vehicle that he proceeded to crash several blocks away. He was apprehended on foot a short time later.
At the time of the offense, Cartwright-Nye already had two prior Illinois state court convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was released from the Iowa Department of Corrections approximately five months prior to committing this offense. The government argued that a significant sentence was needed to protect the public and deter Cartwright-Nye from committing further crimes.Cartwright-Nye pleaded guilty to the federal charge in August 2025.
The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Rock Island Police Department; Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office; Illinois State Police; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney John Mehochko represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Bourbonnais Woman Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Pandemic-Related FraudRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Bourbonnais, Illinois, woman, Octavia Renee Murphy, 37, of the 700 block of Double Jack Street, was sentenced on May 19, 2026, to one year in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Murphy was also ordered to serve a two-year term of supervised release following her imprisonment and to pay $169,949.97 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
On January 27, 2026, Murphy pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless in Springfield, Illinois, to conspiring with others to defraud the SBA by submitting false applications for pandemic era relief, namely, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advances and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Murphy admitted recruiting relatives, co-workers, and friends to file fraudulent applications for EIDL advances and PPP loans falsely claiming that they operated small businesses prior to and during the pandemic. Murphy admitted that, when those applications were successful, those individuals paid kickbacks to her out of the fraud proceeds. Murphy further admitted that she filed false PPP loan forgiveness applications for those same individuals, as well as attempted to disguise and conceal the PPP loan that she personally received by transferring the money to another account and falsely claiming it was for “payroll”.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence establishing that Murphy was the leader and organizer of a fourteen-defendant conspiracy that defrauded the SBA of $169.949.97 by submitting false EIDL advance and PPP loan applications. The government also established that Murphy was gainfully employed by the State of Illinois at the Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee, Illinois, at the time of her fraud and was motivated by greed, not any financial need.
During the hearing, Judge Lawless rejected Murphy’s request for a minimum sentence of one day of imprisonment, stating that she could not ignore that Murphy was the leader of this large conspiracy to defraud the SBA and that Murphy’s conduct warranted a sentence of imprisonment. Murphy will remain on bond pending reporting to the Bureau of Prisons at a later date to serve her sentence.“Exploiting a program designed to assist small businesses in staying viable during a crisis is inexcusable.” said Acting United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners and protecting the taxpayers by holding these fraudsters accountable for their actions.”
“Pandemic relief funds were meant to protect communities during a crisis, not to line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Ryan Presley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Springfield Field Office. “By organizing a network to steal from taxpayers, the defendant chose personal greed over public need. This case shows that if you defraud emergency federal programs, we and our partners will hold you accountable.”
“Today’s sentencing reflects the coordinated efforts of our office, our investigative partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in addressing fraud involving federal relief programs,” said Basil Demczak, Special Agent in Charge of Amtrak Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “We remain committed to protecting taxpayer funds and holding accountable those who exploited pandemic relief programs intended to support individuals and businesses in need.”
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and each count of wire fraud are up to thirty years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release, full restitution, and a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalty for money laundering is up to twenty years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Federal charges remain pending against the remaining thirteen defendants, with a trial date of July 6, 2026, scheduled before Judge Lawless in Springfield.
The Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General has estimated over $200 billion nationwide in fraudulent pandemic-relief payments under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case investigation was conducted by the Amtrak Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria man, Alton Blue, 38, was sentenced on May 12, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley to 36 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
In December 2024, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents became aware of Blue’s involvement in the distribution of illicit substances in the Central District of Illinois. Blue was identified as a supplier of methamphetamine and participated in multiple drug sales. In total, Blue was responsible for the distribution of at least 1,286.29 grams of methamphetamine.
Blue was arrested on a complaint in May 2025, and a federal grand jury returned an indictment against him in June 2025. He pleaded guilty to both counts in January 2026.
The statutory penalties for distribution of methamphetamine are not less than ten years and up to life imprisonment, not more than a $10 million dollar fine, and a minimum five-year to a maximum life term of supervised release. Blue was eligible for a lower sentence because he was sentenced pursuant to the “safety-valve” provision of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f).
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Blue is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Kankakee Man Sentenced to 72 months in Prison for Fifth Weapons FelonyRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Kankakee, Illinois, man, Jerome Simms, 37, was sentenced on May 15, 2026 to 72 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At the sentencing hearing in front of Chief United States District Judge Colin S. Bruce, the government presented evidence that Simms was found in possession of a firearm while fleeing a traffic stop in 2025. Simms had previously been found guilty of four other weapons offenses in Illinois state courts including armed robbery with a knife, armed robbery with a firearm, possessing a weapon in a penal institution, and possessing a firearm as a felon. The government also noted Simms’s several controlled substance convictions. The government argued that a significant sentence was needed to deter Simms from further crimes.
Also at the hearing, Judge Bruce found that Simms was on mandatory supervised release, for delivery of cocaine when he possessed the firearm in the federal case. Judge Bruce encouraged Simms not to “squander the rest of his life” after serving his sentence and further encouraged him to leave behind the habits and lifestyle that led to this case.
Simms was convicted following a plea of guilty.
The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group; and the Kankakee Police Department cooperated in the investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorney William J. Lynch represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Joliet Man Sentenced to 384 Months in Prison for Enticement of a Minor and Committing a Felony Sex Offense While a Registered Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Joliet, Illinois, man, Martin T. Marling, 41, was sentenced on May 12, 2026, to 384 months’ imprisonment, followed by a life term of supervised release, following his guilty pleas to enticing a minor and committing a felony sex offense while a registered sex offender. The court also imposed a $10,000 special assessment fee.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow considered evidence of the incredibly serious nature of Marling’s conduct. In spring 2025, Marling engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a child he met online and arranged for the child to travel to his home in the middle of the night for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. The child was recovered unharmed before arriving at Marling’s home. At the time this incident occurred, Marling was on probation in the State of Illinois for a sex offense and was required to register as a sex offender. In pronouncing the sentence, the judge stated that this type of behavior causes real harm to victims and their families and that it is punished severely under the law.
Marling was arrested in Will County, Illinois, in April 2025 in connection with a federal complaint and was detained following an initial appearance. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest. He was indicted in May 2025 and pleaded guilty in November 2025.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office in collaboration with our law enforcement partners once again removed a dangerous predator from the community.” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “We will continue to hold any individuals who threaten our children accountable and prosecute them to the fullest.”
"Thirty-two years in a federal prison is exactly what a repeat predator deserves," said FBI Springfield Field Office’s Special Agent in Charge, Ryan Presley. "Our agents and law enforcement partners do not wait around for tragedy to happen. Once notified, our team tracked this threat, moved aggressively, and secured an arrest before this man could meet with any children. We took a dangerous offender completely off the streets, and we will do the exact same thing to anyone else who attempts to target our children."
The statutory penalties for enticement of a minor are at least ten years up to life imprisonment, at least five years and up to a life term of supervised release, a fine up to $250,000, and a special assessment of $5,000. The statutory penalties for committing a felony sex offense while a registered sex offender are ten years imprisonment consecutive to the sentence on the underlying felony sex offense conviction, at least five years and up to a life term of supervised release, a fine up to $250,000, and a special assessment of $5,000.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the Galesburg Police Department with assistance from the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda W. Searle and Jennifer L. Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Felon Sentenced to Federal Probation for Selling Cocaine and Firearms in Bloomington, IllinoisRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – An Indianapolis, Indiana, man, Melvin May, 44, formerly of Bloomington, Illinois, was sentenced on May 7, 2026, to five years’ probation by United States District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley after pleading guilty to four counts of distribution of a controlled substance (cocaine) and two counts of possession of a firearm as a felon.
Between September 27, 2024, and October 25, 2024, May sold cocaine and/or firearms in Bloomington on five occasions. In total, he sold two firearms and 151.8 grams of cocaine. May, who had four prior felony convictions, was on probation in McLean County, Illinois, at the time he committed the federal offenses. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
May was indicted in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in January 2026.
The statutory penalties for distribution of a controlled substance (cocaine) are a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment per count, while the felon in possession charges carry a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment per count. Each charge requires the imposition of a minimum three-year term of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Peoria Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – On May 7, 2026, a Peoria, Illinois, man, Wallace Jordan, 56, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for distribution of methamphetamine and 24 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon by United States District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley. The judge ordered that the sentences be served concurrently and imposed a five-year term of supervised release.
In December 2024, Jordan, who was already a convicted felon, possessed and sold a loaded firearm. He also sold approximately 110.4 grams of methamphetamine. As a convicted felon, Jordan was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Jordan was indicted in September 2025 and pleaded guilty in February 2026. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in October 2025.
The statutory penalties for distribution of methamphetamine include the mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, which the court imposed, to life imprisonment; up to five years of supervised release; and up to a $10,000,000 fine. The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are not more than 15 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Jordan is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Texas Man Charged with Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Texas man appeared in federal court on April 30, 2026, after being charged by criminal complaint on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, for allegedly possessing a substance containing methamphetamine with intent to distribute it, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). William Mayes, Jr., 35, was detained following his initial appearance.
The complaint alleges that Mayes, Jr., was found in possession of 300 pounds of a substance containing methamphetamine after a traffic stop conducted by the Illinois State Police led to a search of his vehicle.
If convicted, Mayes, Jr., faces not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a maximum $10,000,000 fine, and not less than five years and up to a life term of supervised release.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Illinois State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weir is representing the government in the prosecution.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bloomington Man Charged with Sending Interstate Threats to InjureRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Bloomington, Illinois, man appeared in federal court today after being charged by criminal complaint on Friday, April 24, 2026, for transmitting interstate threats to injure, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). Sean E. Lenckus, 35, of Bloomington, was released on conditions of bond following his initial appearance.
The complaint alleges that Lenckus transmitted several interstate threats to injure another person from February 2023 through April 2026.
Lenckus was arrested on Friday evening by federal agents with assistance of the McLean County Sheriff’s Office. He was placed on bond pending trial.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crime charged are five years’ incarceration, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the McLean County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Central District of Illinois Recognizes Crime Victims’ Rights Week and Welcomes New Facility DogRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois is recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19-25, 2026. This year’s theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate”—reminding us of our ongoing responsibility to provide the highest level of service to victims in our community. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, which serves 46 counties, is proud to join the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and communities throughout the United States in raising awareness of victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and their advocates.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office works diligently to prosecute crimes and is equally committed to identifying the needs of victims and advocating for the most effective way to meet those needs. As part of this commitment, we have introduced Maisy, the nation’s first U.S. Attorney’s Office Facility Dog, to enhance the support services available to victims. Maisy works directly with victims coping with trauma, providing support and comfort as they navigate the criminal justice system.
Victims of crime deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. It is essential that we work together to empower survivors. We are grateful for the many law enforcement agencies, social service organizations and community partners who work with us each year to support victims in the Central District of Illinois.
If you would like to learn more about victim services and Maisy, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil. For more information about the Office for Victims of Crime and National Crime Victims’ Rights week you may visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/about.
Indiana Man Charged with Robbery and Murder of Illinois Bar OwnerRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A grand jury in the Central District of Illinois returned an indictment on April 8, 2026, charging Julius Burkes, 47, of Indiana, with obstruction of commerce by robbery, murder, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. Burkes is alleged to have robbed and murdered the owner of The Line, a bar in Momence, Illinois, using a firearm, on February 2, 2026. The indictment was unsealed on April 13, 2026.
Burkes was arrested in Hammond, Indiana, on February 3, 2026, by officers of the Hammond Police Department, who were working in coordination with the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office. Burkes has remained in law enforcement custody since that date. He was initially charged by the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office, which has been working in coordination with federal authorities and the U.S. Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation and after Burkes’ arrest.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for obstruction of commerce by robbery are up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The maximum statutory penalties for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon are up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The maximum penalty for murder is up to life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force (“TCAT”); the Illinois State Police; the Momence Police Department; the Bradley Police Department; the Grant Park Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force; and the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Freres is representing the United States in the prosecution.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Vermilion County Business Owner Sentenced to Jail for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Danville, Illinois, man, Howard Keith Wilson, 73, was sentenced on March 30, 2026, to three years of supervised release, during which he will serve thirty consecutive weekends in jail, for failure to pay employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service and failure to file federal income tax returns.
On July 24, 2025, Wilson pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long to fifteen separate counts of collecting employment taxes from his employees, which included taxes for his employees’ Social Security and Medicare payments, but then failing to turn over those taxes, or pay the employer’s portion of those taxes, to the IRS. At the time of his plea, Wilson admitted that he had failed to pay those taxes from 2013 through 2020. Wilson also pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to file a personal federal income tax return from 2018 to 2020.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence establishing that Wilson was the sole owner of Wilson’s Body Shop, a collision repair and car painting business located in Danville, and employed several individuals. Wilson generated and distributed Forms W-2 to his employees whereby he deducted federal employment tax withholdings from their salaries, but then failed to pay those taxes, or the employer’s share of those taxes, to the IRS. Wilson failed to pay employment taxes from at least 2013 through 2020, totaling an employment tax loss of $351,152. Moreover, Wilson failed to file a personal federal income tax return or pay federal taxes for 2018, 2019, and 2020, despite income of $698,354, $1,058,401, and $772,603, respectively, resulting in an additional federal income tax loss of $505,871. The evidence showed that Wilson has a substantial net worth and continues to operate Wilson’s Body Shop in Danville.
U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce ordered Wilson to serve one day in jail (time served), to be followed by three years of supervised release, and to pay a $1,575 mandatory special assessment. As a condition of supervised release, Judge Bruce ordered Wilson to pay restitution of $614,411.26 to the IRS and to serve 30 consecutive weekends (known as intermittent confinement) in a local jail where the United States Marshals Service has a contract to hold federal inmates. Judge Bruce also ordered Wilson to pay 50% of his disposable income each month towards his restitution obligation.
The statutory penalties for each count of failing to pay employment taxes are up to five years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, full restitution, and a $10,000 fine.
The case investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.
Salvadoran National Sentenced to 15 months in Prison for Illegal Presence in United States and Resisting ArrestRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Salvadoran national, Edwin Bonilla Mendoza, 39, who previously resided in Kankakee County, Illinois, was sentenced on March 30, 2026, to 15 months of imprisonment for being a removed alien found in the United States and resisting a federal officer.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Bonilla Mendoza had been removed from the United States in 2018 but returned. After that illegal return, he strangled a family member and was convicted of Aggravated Domestic Battery in Kankakee County Circuit Court in 2023. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in marked police uniforms located him in Kankakee County in June 2025 and apprehended him after he tried to flee from arrest.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Bonilla Mendoza created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury while fleeing from ICE. He found that Bonilla Mendoza tried to drive away from agents and accelerated his vehicle into a police car twice before fleeing into a residential area.
Bonilla Mendoza pleaded guilty to his offenses. It is anticipated that he will be removed from the United States at the conclusion of his sentence.
The statutory penalties for being a removed alien found in the United States are up to two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release. In this case, resisting a federal officer carried penalties of up to one year of imprisonment, up to a $100,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release.
Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Lynch represented the government in the prosecution.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois, to Improve Access for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Department of Justice announced today it has reached a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the American Giants Museum, located in Atlanta, Illinois, to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Department reached the agreement with the Atlanta Betterment Fund, which owns and operates the museum.
The settlement resolves an ADA complaint alleging that the Museum does not comply with the ADA and has safety concerns for people with disabilities. The complaint prompted an investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. The investigation revealed that the museum’s front entrance, bathroom, and outdoor exhibits are not accessible as required by the ADA and that some injuries to visitors had been reported.
Under the agreement, the Museum will make twenty-four improvements to its building and facilities, including construction of a new entrance, modifications to its bathroom, and improvements to its outdoor exhibits to expand access.
The Museum, which opened a brand-new building to the public in 2024 near the historic Route-66 highway, showcases a collection of giant fiberglass statutes. As a place of public accommodation, the ADA requires the Museum to be accessible to people with disabilities and provide full and equal enjoyment of its goods, services, and facilities.
“Places of public accommodation like museums must be accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua I. Grant for the Central District of Illinois. “We commend the Museum for its cooperation and prompt action to renovate its facilities to expand access for all.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant represented the government during the investigation and settlement process. For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint.
The Frightening Reality of Online PredatorsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice is calling on parents, caregivers, teachers, and community
members to join law enforcement in the fight against a dangerous and growing category of
online predators. These networks, often referred to as “764” or “Nihilistic Violent
Extremism” (NVE), represent a decentralized extremist subculture that weaponizes digital
platforms to exploit and radicalize children. These perpetrators also may be engaging in
criminal activity for sexual gratification, seeing an opening to prey on children. Other
individuals may be drawn to the groups by a desire for social status or a sense of belonging
and may not be ideologically motivated. Regardless, these networks exist on publicly
available online platforms, such as social media sites, gaming platforms, and mobile
applications commonly used by young people.The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat posed by these networks and is
investigating hundreds of subjects nationwide, including investigations involving
perpetrators and victims right here in the Central District of Illinois. Despite the determined
work of FBI agents along with their partners at U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country,
more and more children are finding these groups online. The Federal Bureau of
Investigation currently has identified over 450 subjects tied to these networks nationwide.
The majority of victims are under the age of 18, with some as young as nine years old.Understanding the Threat: What is NVE?
Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a form of violence motivated by a hatred of society and a
drive to cause its collapse through indiscriminate chaos. Unlike traditional extremist
groups with clear political or religious agendas, NVE members advocate for destruction
across the world by glorifying mass killers, promoting animal cruelty, and urging self-harm.These predators methodically target vulnerable individuals, primarily children and teens,
on social media and gaming platforms. Once contact is established, they use "sextortion,"
manipulation, and blackmail to coerce victims into producing "gore" content or child
sexual abuse material or performing acts of violence and self-mutilation, often demanding
these acts be livestreamed. These actors have even manipulated children to take their own
lives.“Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a direct assault on the safety of our youth,” said FBI
Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge, Karen Marinos. “These groups specifically seek
out vulnerable children to coerce them into horrific acts of self-harm and violence. The
FBI’s priority is to disrupt these networks at their source, ensuring that the predators who
orchestrate this exploitation are held accountable for the lives they attempt to destroy.”
“We are working tirelessly to protect our children and ensure that those who perpetrate
these evil acts face justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “The dedicated
prosecutors and staff in my office, alongside our FBI partners, will use every available tool,
from sophisticated digital forensics to community outreach, to dismantle these nihilistic
networks and protect the Central District of Illinois.”Awareness and Prevention: Warning Signs for Parents
Awareness is the first line of defense: do not count on filters or parental controls to stop
these activities. NVE actors are highly skilled at bypassing restrictions or teaching victims
how to bypass them. Law enforcement urges parents to have open, ongoing conversations
with their children about their digital lives and to discourage the use of devices in nonshared
areas of the home.These predators methodically target vulnerable individuals, primarily children and teens,
on social media and gaming platforms. Once contact is established, they use "sextortion,"
manipulation, and blackmail to coerce victims into producing "gore" content or child
sexual abuse material or performing acts of violence and self-mutilation, often demanding
these acts be livestreamed. These actors have even manipulated children to take their own
lives.“Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a direct assault on the safety of our youth,” said FBI
Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge, Karen Marinos. “These groups specifically seek
out vulnerable children to coerce them into horrific acts of self-harm and violence. The
FBI’s priority is to disrupt these networks at their source, ensuring that the predators who
orchestrate this exploitation are held accountable for the lives they attempt to destroy.”“We are working tirelessly to protect our children and ensure that those who perpetrate
these evil acts face justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “The dedicated
prosecutors and staff in my office, alongside our FBI partners, will use every available tool,
from sophisticated digital forensics to community outreach, to dismantle these nihilistic
networks and protect the Central District of Illinois.”Awareness and Prevention: Warning Signs for Parents
Awareness is the first line of defense: do not count on filters or parental controls to stop
these activities. NVE actors are highly skilled at bypassing restrictions or teaching victims
how to bypass them. Law enforcement urges parents to have open, ongoing conversations
with their children about their digital lives and to discourage the use of devices in nonshared
areas of the home.Potential signs of victimization include:
- Physical Markers: Fresh cuts, scratches, or scars, often in patterns (including
"764"-related terms or platform names). These cuts will often be on hidden places
of the body (thigh, chest, groin). - Behavioral Changes: Becoming suddenly withdrawn, moody, or irritable. Changes
in school performance, eating, or sleeping habits. These may be drastic and without
warning. - Animal Cruelty or Aggression: Sudden interest in harming animals or unexplained
aggression toward younger siblings. - Digital Red Flags: Reports of personally identifying information being posted online
("doxing") or unexplained gifts/packages arriving at the home. - Dark Ideation: Openly talking about death, "not being wanted," or threatening
suicide. Actively seeking tools for violence such as firearms, explosives, or
chemicals.
Reporting and Resources
If you or someone you know is a victim of these tactics, retain all digital evidence
(usernames, emails, platform names) and report it immediately:- 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov
- FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
- In case of imminent danger, call 911.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provides a free service
known as Take It Down, which helps minor victims, or adults who were victimized as
minors, to remove or stop the online sharing of nude or sexually explicit content taken
while under 18 years old. For more information, visit https://takeitdown.ncmec.org.These investigations are part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat
the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the
Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child
Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and
local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children
via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about
Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks
here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service
announcement.- Physical Markers: Fresh cuts, scratches, or scars, often in patterns (including
Memphis Woman Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison on Gun and Methamphetamine Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley sentenced 30-year-old Kristain Harris, of Memphis, Tennessee, to 120 months imprisonment on each of three counts of distribution of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine (“ice”) and one count of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (“ice”), all to be served concurrently. She must also serve five years of supervised release.
At the sentencing hearing on March 10, 2026, the government presented information that beginning in June 2024, a confidential informant with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) purchased methamphetamine from Harris in Peoria, Illinois. Unbeknownst to Harris, each of the purchases was recorded. In total, ATF purchased a total of 597.7 grams of ice methamphetamine from Harris. During one of the purchases, Harris also sold a 9 mm pistol to the confidential informant. Harris was indicted in September 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025.
The statutory penalties for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by a minimum five-year term of supervised release. Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine requires a mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment of five to 40 years’ imprisonment, followed by a minimum four-year term of supervised release.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Onarga Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possession of a BombRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – An Onarga, Illinois, man, James R. Nelson, 40, was sentenced on February 23, 2026, to five years in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possession of an unregistered destructive device, or a bomb in April 2025.
A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment against Nelson in July 2025. He pleaded guilty in October 2025.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce, the government played the body camera of the Iroquois County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office detective who encountered Nelson during a routine traffic stop. Although the detective advised Nelson that he had a warrant for his arrest on an unrelated charge, Nelson refused to exit the car, forcing the detective to reach into the car and attempt to remove him. As the officer did so, Nelson reached into the back seat and pulled out a gray cylindrical device, telling the detective it was a bomb.
Nelson refused to relinquish the bomb and instead sprinted through residential neighborhoods in Onarga with the bomb in his hand while attempting to escape. He made it to his mother’s house, where he barricaded himself for approximately eight hours while police attempted to get him to surrender. Law enforcement eventually forced their way into an attic where Nelson was hiding and arrested him. They found the device, which analysis later revealed to be a functional bomb, near where Nelson was apprehended.
The statutory penalty for possession of an unregistered destructive device is up to ten years of imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
The Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case, with assistance from Kankakee County (Illinois) Emergency Response Team and the East Central Illinois Bomb Squad. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres represented the United States in the prosecution.
Illegal Alien Sex Offender Sentenced to 14 months in Prison for Failing to Update Registration as a Sex Offender and Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Urbana, Ill. – A Guatemalan national, Roberto Nicolas-Simon, 24, has been sentenced to a concurrent 14 months of imprisonment for failing to update registration as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and being a removed alien illegally present in United States.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Nicolas-Simon was unlawfully present in the United States when he was convicted of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse in Champaign County. He acknowledged his registration obligation as a sex offender before being removed from the United States to Guatemala in 2021. Sometime in 2024, he illegally reentered the United States and lived in Champaign without updating his sex offender registration until he was discovered in a joint Immigration and Customs Enforcement and United States Marshals Service investigation.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Colin S. Bruce found Nicolas-Simon’s illegal reentry offense was subject to an enhanced range of penalties as he committed his sex offense prior to being removed from the United States for the first time. Judge Bruce further found that Nicolas-Simon should serve five years of supervised release after his imprisonment with a specific condition that he not illegally reenter the United States. Violating that condition would subject him to additional penalties, in addition to a new prosecution for illegal reentry.
Nicolas-Simon was convicted after pleading guilty to these offenses in September, 2025. Upon the completion of his sentence, he will enter into removal proceedings.
Nicolas-Simon faced statutory penalties of up to ten years of imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine for each offense. He could have also received up to three years of supervised release for being illegally present in the United States and at least a five-year term and a maximum life term of supervised release for failure to update his registration as a sex offender.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
The case investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, in collaboration with the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney William J. Lynch represented the government in the prosecution.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $5,236,030.66 in Civil and Criminal Actions for Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
Springfield, Ill - Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore announced today that the Central District of Illinois collected $5,236,030.66 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $4,016,049.76 was collected in criminal actions and $1,219,980.90 collected in civil actions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of Illinois worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $391,543.94 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount,$22,712.78 was collected in criminal actions and $368,831.16 was collected in civil actions.
“Our office is unwavering in the fight to protect individuals and the government from financial crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “We will continue to diligently prosecute offenders, collect debts, and seek restitution for victims harmed by life altering financial losses.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of Illinois, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $9,326,268.00 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
For example, in February, the Central District of Illinois recovered $1,620,641.18 towards the judgment in the Aaron J. Rossi case. Rossi was sentenced in July 2024 after pleading guilty to committing mail fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. He was ordered to pay a total of $3,120,641.48 in assessments, fines, and restitution.
And in March, the Central District of Illinois recovered $308,163.71 towards the outstanding judgment in the Lori Zeitler case. Zeitler pled guilty to five counts of wire fraud and was sentenced to pay a $500 special assessment and $600,000.00 in restitution to her victims.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Two Counts of Distributing “Ice” MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Christopher William Crawford, 32, of the 1400 block of West Covington Court, was sentenced on January 7, 2026, to 120 months imprisonment on each of two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual). The sentences will be served concurrently, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Crawford must also pay a $200 special assessment fee. The Court ordered Crawford’s sentence to be served concurrent to any term of imprisonment imposed in Peoria County Circuit Court.
At the sentencing hearing, uncontroverted evidence showed that in September 2024, Crawford sold controlled substances on two occasions in the Peoria area. On both occasions, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms found the drugs tested as “ice” methamphetamine. In total, Crawford was responsible for the distribution of at least 174.2 grams of ice methamphetamine.
Crawford was indicted and arrested in October 2024. He entered a guilty plea in March 2025.
The statutory penalties for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) are 10 years to life, followed by up to 5 years of supervised release.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
Pekin, Illinois Felon Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois man, Joshua Dunn, 33, formerly of South Second Street, was sentenced on January 6, 2026, to 144 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and 60 months for a felon in possession of a firearm charge. The sentence is to be served concurrently in the Bureau of Prisons.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, uncontested evidence established that Dunn, a convicted felon, who was unable to lawfully possess a firearm, possessed methamphetamine, cocaine and multiple firearms at his Pekin residence. The drugs and firearms were seized on January 30, 2025, during the execution of two residential search warrants.
Approximately 16 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, multiple baggies containing approximately 170 grams of methamphetamine, scales, packaging material indicative of drug trafficking, and 11 firearms were found in the residence.
Dunn, who has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since he was arrested following a federal indictment in February 2025, entered a guilty plea in November 2025.
Dunn committed these offenses while on supervised release for a prior conviction of felon in possession of a firearm. Dunn’s supervised release was revoked, and a sentence of 24 months imprisonment was imposed, to be served concurrently with his current prison term.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Springfield Residence Office, Pekin Police Department, Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group (P-MEG), and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Relentless JusticeRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country.
“We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes.”
“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”
“Our office is unwavering in its commitment to prosecuting crimes against children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory M. Gilmore. “The prevention and prosecution of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a critical part of our mission to keep our community safe. We are grateful for our partnership with the FBI in pursuing these important cases.”
“During this operational time frame, FBI Springfield made multiple arrests in the Southern and Central District of Illinois,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge, Christopher J.S. Johnson. “These operations are successful due to a combination of local and state partnerships, the relentless work of our investigative bodies, and the commitment we have to keeping our local neighborhoods safe.”
In the Central District of Illinois, a federal grand jury this month returned an indictment against Daniel Brannan, 47, of Jacksonville, Illinois, charging him with trafficking in and possessing child pornography.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material (CSAM), as well as a Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.
As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself.
This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders.
The FBI’s Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD’s mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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East Peoria Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A grand jury today returned an indictment charging Stephen H. Keith, 35, of East Peoria, Illinois, for allegedly perpetrating a wire fraud and identity theft scheme starting as early as August 2020 and continuing to August 2024.
The indictment alleges that Keith claimed to run a company called DeviceLyfe that was never registered with the State of Illinois. According to the indictment, Keith used that purported company to gain access to individuals’ homes and electronic devices, facilitating the theft of personal information. Keith also allegedly downloaded others’ personal and financial information via the internet, collecting and storing information for tens of millions of individuals.
Keith is alleged to have use this information to create and attempt to create false identification documents, to access his victims’ accounts, to steal funds, and to impersonate his victims.
The indictment charges Keith with wire fraud (Counts One through Four), obtaining information by computer from a financial institution (Count Five), possession of a means of identification (Counts Six through Eight), aggravated identity theft (Counts Nine through Ten), and making a false statement (Count Eleven).
Keith was initially charged by federal criminal complaint in December 2025. He was detained and remains in federal custody.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of wire fraud and up to five years’ imprisonment on each of the counts of obtaining information by computer from a financial institution, possession of a means of identification, and making a false statement. Keith also faces a mandatory sentence of two consecutive years’ imprisonment on each of the aggravated identity theft counts. Additional penalties, including fines and forfeiture of assets, may be imposed.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Danville, Illinois, Man Convicted of Multiple Drug Charges, Including Drug-Induced HomicideRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A federal jury returned eight guilty verdicts on November 19, 2025, against Marcus “Slim” McKinney, 49, of Danville, Illinois, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of fifty grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute, maintaining drug-involved premises, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. The jury further found that McKinney distributed drugs that caused serious bodily injury to one woman and the death of another woman, Maggie Avelar. Sentencing for McKinney has been scheduled on March 23, 2026, at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.
Over five days of testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that McKinney was released by the federal Burau of Prisons to 210 South State Street in Danville, Illinois, on April 6, 2023, on conditions of home confinement, including location monitoring with an ankle monitor. From that date until his arrest in Springfield, Illinois, on June 26, 2024, McKinney conspired with others to distribute crystal methamphetamine (“ice”), cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, including exchanging the drugs with women for sex. The jury found that over the weekend of April 15, 2023, McKinney distributed an opioid to a woman who overdosed and would have died if not treated with Narcan, an opioid reversal agent, by the Danville Fire Department and paramedics with Arrow Ambulance. McKinney had falsely told the woman the substance only contained cocaine. The trial evidence showed that same weekend three other people overdosed on drugs provided by McKinney, including the fatal overdose of Christopher “RS” Fields. McKinney continued using 210 South State Street for the use and distribution of illegal drugs until he moved to 111 Kentucky Avenue in Danville later that summer.
The testimony established that McKinney used the premises at 111 Kentucky Avenue to continue his ongoing drug conspiracy, including using and distributing drugs from the residence. The jury found that on August 19, 2023, McKinney distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl – a mixture McKinney referred to as a “Hot Shot” – to Avelar, resulting in her death at 111 Kentucky Avenue. The next morning, McKinney and his brother, James “Brownski” Young, lied to the Danville Police Department about the circumstances surrounding Avelar’s death to attempt to avoid law enforcement learning about McKinney’s true involvement in the overdose.
In September of 2023, McKinney was required to go to a halfway house located in Springfield, Illinois. McKinney continued his drug distribution conspiracy in Springfield, including distributing over one pound of methamphetamine to a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential source on June 20, 2024. Six days later, DEA agents later seized over two pounds of methamphetamine and over five kilograms of cocaine from storage lockers in Springfield that McKinney had opened under the confidential source’s name. The jury further found that McKinney engaged in witness tampering in January of 2025 while his federal charges were pending, when he wrote a letter to a potential witness urging her to contact McKinney’s attorney and falsely say that other witnesses were lying about McKinney’s drug activities and were trying to get her to lie as well.
McKinney remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, where he has been since his arrest on June 26, 2024. At sentencing, McKinney, who has two prior federal drug convictions, faces a statutory penalty of mandatory life imprisonment for his various convictions, including distributing the drugs that caused the death of Avelar.
The case investigation was conducted by the Danville Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; the Springfield Police Department; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugene L. Miller and Timothy J. Sullivan represented the United States at trial.
United States Extradites Three Alleged Members of Tren de Aragua to Chile to Face Prosecution for Murder, Kidnapping, and other Violent OffensesRead the Press Release
Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
On Sept. 30, the United States extradited to Chile three fugitives, all of whom had been in the United States illegally, to face charges of homicide, kidnapping for ransom, and human smuggling in connection with their alleged involvement in Tren de Aragua (TdA). On Jan. 20, Executive Order 14157 designated TdA – a Venezuelan-based transnational criminal organization – to be a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
“The three defendants allegedly committed heinous crimes in the name of the foreign terrorist organization, Tren de Aragua, and then sought to escape justice by living in the United States illegally,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “With today’s extradition, the Department of Justice has made the streets of the United States safer and assisted our Chilean partners in ensuring that these defendants will be held accountable for crimes that they are accused of committing in that country. The United States will no longer be a safe haven for members of TdA who pose a direct threat to our public safety and national security.”
The three extradited fugitives alleged to be associated with TdA are:
- Miguel Oyola Jimenez, 38, a dual Venezuelan and Ecuadorian national, surrendered to Chile to be prosecuted on two counts of kidnapping for ransom and one count of criminal association. Chile alleges that Oyola Jimenez directed and conducted kidnappings for ransom of migrant workers as part of a cell of TdA operating in Northern Chile;
- Jesus Alberto Golding Escalona, 34, a Venezuelan national, surrendered to Chile to be prosecuted on charges of aggravated murder and human smuggling. Chile alleges that Golding Escalona is associated with Tren de Desastre, a Chilean-based affiliate of TdA, and that he killed an individual as part of a large human smuggling operation in Chile; and
- Edgar Javier Benitez Rubio, 37, a Venezuelan national, surrendered to Chile to be prosecuted on charges of kidnapping with homicide, criminal association, and receiving stolen property. Chile alleges that Benitez Rubio was a member of TdA who participated in the kidnapping and killing of a well-known Venezuelan opposition member in Santiago, Chile, by providing the vehicles used to facilitate the kidnapping operation.
Also on Sept. 30, the United States extradited two additional defendants to Chile, both accused of violent crimes. Chile alleges that Gregoris Jose Cortez Fernandez, 35, a Venezuelan national, acted as the hitman for Gallineta, a violent street gang. Chile further alleges that Yonaiker Gabriel Sequera Olivero, 24, a Venezuelan national, shot an individual in connection with a dispute over narcotics.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central District of Illinois, Southern District of Indiana, Eastern District of Michigan, and Western District of Washington, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Chilean prosecutors and law enforcement authorities, to facilitate the extraditions.
Illinois Man Arrested for Alleged Threats Against the PresidentRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – An El Paso, Illinois, man, Derek Lopez, 27, has been charged in federal court with making threats against President Donald J. Trump. Lopez was arrested on October 28, 2025. Preliminary and detention hearings are scheduled for Monday, November 3, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Peoria, Illinois.
If convicted, Lopez faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the United States Secret Service, the El Paso Police Department, the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State University Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss.
Members of the public are reminded that the charges in a complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.