Prosecution Summaries
On March 5, 2010, Glenn D. “Booger” Smith of Chicago, IL was sentenced to 120 months in prison for distribution of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm. Smith was ordered to serve a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison for selling approximately 10.9 grams of crack cocaine and a shotgun to an individual cooperating with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
Smith was convicted by a jury on September 26, 2009 of one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing more than 5 grams of crack cocaine, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on May 6, 2005, Smith distributed 10.9 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant. The government presented that later, Smith directed the informant to Smith’s apartment, where Smith’s girlfriend provided the informant with a shotgun, loaded with five rounds of ammunition. The informant had told Smith that the gun was needed for protection in drug trafficking activity.
Smith has three prior felony convictions, and a number of arrests for violent conduct, including aggravated domestic battery, and drugs and weapons charges.
The case was investigated by the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher McFadden.
On January 22, 2010, Andre Triplett (40 years old) was sentenced to nearly 14 years (13 years, 10 months) in prison for possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute it.
According to court documents, on June 26, 2008, in Chicago, Triplett possessed one Astra .25 caliber pistol, and one Winchester .22 caliber rifle, as well as crack cocaine, which he intended to distribute. Triplett pleaded guilty to the charges relating to the possession of crack cocaine. Triplett was a member of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang, with criminal conduct dating back many years, including seven prior drug convictions. As noted, in addition to possessing crack cocaine, Triplett also was charged with possessing two handguns at the time of the drug offense. Because of Triplett’s prior criminal convictions, he was considered a career offender under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and therefore faced increased advisory sentencing guidelines. In sentencing Triplett, the judge noted that Triplett’s repeated drug convictions had an adverse impact on his community.
The case was investigated by the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, which initially brought charges, later referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany Biesenthal.
On January 6, 2010, Dion Harden (26 years old), was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and distribution of crack cocaine. Harden, an admitted associate of the Black Stone street gang with three prior drug convictions, was ordered to serve a mandatory minium sentence of 10 years in prison for distributing in excess of 50 grams of crack cocaine consecutively with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Harden last resided on the south side of Chicago.
According to court documents, on November 9, 2006, in Chicago, Harden distributed 61.3 grams of crack cocaine. The transaction was electronically recorded by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), who were investigating Harden. Following that transaction, on March 31, 2007, Chicago Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Harden’s residence. Officers recovered a loaded handgun as well as drugs and drug paraphernalia.
The case was investigated by ATF’s Chicago Office and the Chicago Police Department as part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, which initially brought charges, later referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Lorenzen.
On December 9, 2009, Cornelious Hayes (27 years old) was sentenced to 6 years, 8 months in prison for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense.
According to court documents, on September 14, 2008, in Chicago’s Englewood community, Hayes possessed two handguns, after having previously been convicted of a felony offense. Hayes proceeded to trial and was convicted by a jury. At trial, the government presented testimony from Chicago police officers who were involved in Hayes’s arrest, as well as two residents of the Englewood community who observed Hayes in possession of a handgun. Hayes is a member of the Gangster Disciples street gang, with criminal conduct dating back many years, including aggravated battery, robbery, and drug offenses.
The case was investigated by the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, which initially brought charges, later referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunil R. Harjani.
On November 12, 2009, Steven Waltower was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of felony criminal offense. Waltower (26 years old) last resided on the west side of Chicago.
According to court documents, on September 7, 2007, in Chicago, Waltower possessed a Glock 19, 9-millimeter pistol as well as crack cocaine, which he intended to distribute. After a jury trial, Waltower was convicted of possessing the firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense. Court documents reflected that the firearm involved was stolen. Additionally, the firearm was found in close proximity to more than 200 baggies of crack cocaine, packaged for resale. Waltower is also an admitted member of the Vice Lords street gang, with criminal conduct dating back many years, including five drug offenses and one prior weapons offense.
The case was investigated by the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, which initially brought charges, later referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Renai Rodney and Timothy Chapman.
On November 5, 2009, Darris Hyte (31 years old) of Elgin, Illinois was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, on June 23, 2008, in Elgin, Hyte possessed 31.5 grams of crack cocaine, which he intended to distribute. Along with the crack cocaine, Hyte also had a loaded .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number. Hyte admitted that he possessed the firearm in order to protect his distribution of crack cocaine. Hyte was considered a career offender under federal sentencing guidelines based on two prior drug trafficking convictions. As a career offender, Hyte faced a heightened sentencing guideline range. Hyte was indicted in October 2008 of four criminal offenses. In addition to the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, Hyte was also indicted for possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony offense; possessing with the intent to distribute in excess of five grams of crack cocaine; and, possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Following the indictment, Hyte pleaded guilty on June 11, 2009 to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
The case was investigated by the Elgin Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Initiative. The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, which initially brought charges, later referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hauser.
On June 17, 2009, Luis Contreras (27 years’ old), was sentenced to 100 months in prison for conspiring to deal in firearms without a license, dealing in firearms without a license, and three counts of possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. Contreras last resided in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood.
According to court documents, beginning around June 2007 and continuing to October 29, 2007, Contreras conspired to deal firearms without being a licensed firearms dealer. Specifically, on three different occasions, Contreras–a convicted felon–obtained and sold three guns with ammunition, including two handguns and a semi-automatic pistol, and attempted to sell two more. The investigation was conducted using an undercover ATF agent to purchase the handguns.
According to the Government’s Sentencing Memorandum–citing his post-arrest statements–Contreras is a self-confessed 14-year member of the Latin Saints street gang, with a number of arrests for violent conduct, including aggravated battery, domestic battery, and aggravated battery with a firearm. In the Government’s Version of the Offense, the government presented evidence that Contreras admitted to over ten shootings for the Latin Saints street gang, and to having sold approximately one ounce of cocaine per week between sometime in 2000 and his November 2008 arrest.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Following his federal conviction, ATF presented evidence to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office regarding statements Contreras made regarding an attempted murder in which he was involved. Contreras later pled guilty in state court to aggravated battery with a firearm, and received an additional six years’ imprisonment. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon R. Fairley.
