Five Men Arrested, Indictedon Federal Gun Charges In Kankakee

Urbana, Ill. -- Five men who were arrested yesterday on gun charges made their initial court appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge David G. Bernthal, as announced by U.S. Attorney Jim Lewis, Central District of Illinois. A federal grand jury returned the indictments earlier this week but the charges remained sealed pending their arrests and court appearances. 

The defendants, charged in separate cases, are:
Rico J. Speed, 27, of the 1200 block of 4th Street, Kankakee, four counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of crack cocaine;
Antwon T. Crite, 38, of Hopkins Park, eight counts of felon in possession of a firearm;
Roosevelt D. Smith, 22, of the 1300 block of 7th Ave., Kankakee, four counts felon in possession of a firearm (four counts) and one count of possession and sale of stolen ammunition;
Charles V. Williams, 39, of the 1200 block of E. Locust St., Kankakee, one count felon in possession of a firearm; and,
Carlton Lashawn Smith, 34, of the 400 block of S. Rosewood Ave., Kankakee, one count felon in possession of a firearm.

The charges are the result of ongoing investigations related to gun violence in the Kankakee area by the Kankakee Area Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Kankakee Police Department.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller. The Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police, and Kankakee County Corrections assisted with the arrests.

The five defendants were ordered to remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  Pre-trial conferences were set for Oct. 31, with trial dates scheduled on Nov. 12, 2014.

If convicted, each count of felon in possession of a firearm carries a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison. One defendant, Smith, is also charged with one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, that, if convicted, carries a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison. 

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

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