Des Plaines Man Indicted, Charged with Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute

PEORIA, Ill. – A Des Plaines, Ill., man, Arriba W. Lewis, 43, was arraigned in federal court today, after a grand jury returned an indictment that charges him with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that Lewis possessed with intent to distribute approximately 200 grams of heroin on Jan. 12, 2017.

Lewis appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, who had previously ordered that Lewis remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. Lewis was previously charged in a criminal complaint filed on Jan. 13, 2017. According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Illinois State Police stopped Lewis on Jan. 12, for a traffic violation on Interstate 55 in McLean County. Trial has been scheduled for April 3, 2017, before Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid.

The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration in cooperation with the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Korn.

If convicted, the statutory penalty for the offense of distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin is no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison. If a defendant has previously been convicted of a felony drug offense, the statutory penalty is no less than ten years and up to life in prison.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.