Four Illinois Law Enforcement Agencies share $1.5 Million In Forfeited Assets From 2009 Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy

Rock Island, Ill. – Four law enforcement agencies in the Central District of Illinois’ Rock Island Division are among 33 agencies in New York, California, and Illinois to share $8,923,708 in forfeited assets as a result of a marijuana distribution conspiracy case U.S. v. Canori et al. that began with a traffic stop by Illinois State Police in June 2009.
           
Four Illinois agencies will share $1,447,590.16:  Geneseo Police Department $212,036.82; Henry County State’s Attorney’s Office $241,506.19; Illinois State Police $752,540.96; and, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group $241,506.19.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York held a news conference this afternoon to make the announcement. The news release, attached, provides a comprehensive overview of the prosecution of the five individuals in the Northern District of New York, U.S. v. Canori et al., which resulted from a traffic stop by Illinois State Police on westbound Interstate 80 in Henry County, Ill., on June 13, 2009.

According to federal court documents, while the trooper was conducting the traffic stop, an Illinois State Police drug-detecting K-9 made a positive alert on the trailer which was searched, and approximately 334 pounds of marijuana was seized. The drugs were intended to be transported from California to upstate New York for distribution. Through a controlled delivery executed with the Albany DEA office, the delivery was completed, and five individuals were charged and convicted for drug offenses.

As a result of this prosecution, $12,515,738 represented the proceeds of assets seized; $8,923,708.19 was distributed to law enforcement agencies and the remaining $3,592,029.81 was provided to the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program.   

The driver of the truck and trailer was charged in the Central District of Illinois. The defendant entered into a pre-trial diversion agreement with the government. U.S. Probation recommended that the charge be dismissed upon successful completion when the diversion period expired in January 2012. On Feb. 3, 2012, U.S. District Judge Joe Billy McDade granted the government’s motion to dismiss the charge.