UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
FBI, SPRINGFIELD DIVISION |
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY |
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LAW ENFORCEMENT TARGETS VIOLENT CRIME AND GANGS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS
Peoria, IL - The convictions this week of two alleged gang members for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in the Peoria area highlight one recent success story in an ongoing cooperative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement to dismantle organized drug distribution networks in central Illinois . Weysan Dun, FBI Special Agent in Charge, held a news conference this morning with Peoria Police Chief Steven Settingsgaard; Central District of Illinois United States Attorney Rodger A. Heaton; and, Larry Hawkins, Coordinator of the Peoria Multi-County Enforcement Group, to raise awareness of ongoing efforts to dismantle and disrupt gang infrastructures in Central Illinois. On Wednesday, February 21, 2007, a jury convicted Adrein Bennett, age 27, the alleged leader of the Peoria street gang known as the “Bigelow Boys.” At sentencing, Bennett faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in federal prison, up to 30 years. The jury also convicted Bennett’s co-defendant, Neashon L. Washington, 32, of the conspiracy and drug distribution. Sentencing for both is scheduled for July 25, 2007. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict for a third defendant, Terry R. Bennett, age 26. The government has not made a final decision as to whether it will seek to try Terry Bennett again. The FBI has a long history of engaging in the fight against violent crime. FBI Special Agent in Charge, Weysan Dun, noted that, “while National Security remains the FBI’s top priority, our violent crime resources are focused on the most acute problems facing our society, including complex multi-jurisdictional investigations where the FBI can bring unique capabilities to the table.” U.S. Attorney Heaton said, “Efforts to disrupt and disable drug distribution networks and the attendant violence of the drug trade demand unwavering commitment from all our law enforcement partners. The Safe Streets Task Forces support and provide vital resources to augment the work of local, state and other federal law enforcement agencies.” The FBI is working with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to leverage resources focused on violent crime, through the Safe Streets Task Force program. In Peoria, the FBI has joined forces with the Peoria Police Department, under the Safe Streets Task Force program, to devote resources to this intelligence-driven interagency effort. The FBI and the Peoria Police Department also work closely with the Peoria Multi-County Enforcement Group, as evidenced by the guilty verdicts on Wednesday. The Springfield Division of the FBI currently operates three Safe Streets Task Forces in central and southern Illinois, in Peoria, the Quad Cities, and the Metro East area. Over 500 law enforcement agencies throughout the United States devote resources to the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force program. There has been a steady increase in the number of Safe Streets Task Force arrests and criminal charges over the last four years. On the National level, the National Gang Intelligence Center provides timely information sharing across jurisdictions, and strategic analysis of federal, state, and local law enforcement information focusing on the growth, migration, trends, and association of gangs that pose a significant threat to communities throughout the United States.
Marshall Stone |