Chicago Field Division
Photo used under Creative Commons from Wikimedia user buphoff
Welcome to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division. Our Division is responsible for ATF criminal enforcement and industry regulatory activities in the State of Illinois. Our dedicated work force is comprised of special agents, investigators, auditors, technicians and support staff.
ATF is committed to reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods. ATF’s Chicago Field Division special agents combat firearms violence by focusing their investigative efforts on armed violent offenders, career criminals, gun traffickers and gangs. We also work in partnership with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois to accomplish this mission.
Explosives and arson enforcement is an integral part of ATF’s overall violent crime reduction strategy. ATF’s Chicago Field Division special agents combat arson and explosives-related crimes by conducting independent investigations and by working in partnership with local and state fire investigators and police bomb squads.
ATF also has the duty of regulating the firearms and explosives industries. Our industry operations investigators work to ensure that all firearms and explosives are stored, handled and sold in a safe manner according to law.
We encourage all residents to get involved and assist us in our goal of reducing crime in our communities. Give us a call and let us know what we can do for you. Our phone number is (312) 846-7200.
Andrew Traver
Division Management Team
- Andrew Traver
- Special Agent In Charge (SAC)
- Dana K. Nichols
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- James Allison
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Michael Fitzgerald
- Director of Industry Operations (DIO)
- Thomas Ahern
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
Division Contact Information
Receive Chicago Press Release Updates
Two Chicago Area Men & Denver Man Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Conspiracy Charges
January 27, 2012
St. Louis, MO — The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that two Chicago area residents and a Denver man pled guilty this week to Racketeering Conspiracy charges in United States District Court in St. Louis.More »
Chicago Brothers Charged with Leading Quincy Crack Cocain Trafficking Conspiracy
January 25, 2012
Springfield, Ill. — Two Chicago brothers previously charged in state court in Adams county now face federal charges alleging they conspired to distribute crack cocaine in the Quincy area for more than a year. Sylvester Purham, 22, and Howard Purham, 19, both of Chicago, appeared today in federal court in Springfield. Both are charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute at least 280 grams of crack cocaine from August 2010 to mid– November 2011, when the brothers were arrested along with others charged in the alleged trafficking.More »
Washington Park Man Trading Drugs for Gun Ends Up Trading Freedom for Term in Prison
January 12, 2012
A Washington Park man was sentenced in federal court on January 13, 2012, on a five–count indictment which charged, in Counts 1–3, distribution of cocaine base; in Count 4, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and in Count 5, being a felon in possession of a firearm, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.More »
Latin Kings’ Nationwide Leader, Augustin Zambrano Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for RICO Conspiracy and Related Gang Crimes
January 11, 2012
CHICAGO — The highest–ranking leader nationwide of the Latin Kings street gang was sentenced today to 60 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum, after being convicted at trial last April of racketeering conspiracy (RICO) and related charges involving narcotics trafficking and violence that plagued numerous neighborhoods on the city’s north, south and west sides. The defendant, Augustin Zambrano, 51, a Corona
of the Almighty Latin King Nation, who was responsible for overseeing the illegal activities of all factions of the powerful street gang with some 10,000 members in Illinois alone, has been in federal custody since 2009 and must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.More »
Rockford Man Convicted on Federal Drug Conspiracy Charges
January 6, 2012
ROCKFORD – A federal jury today convicted a Rockford, Ill., man of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Charles Gary, 34, also known as Do Dirty,
was found guilty following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Rockford.More »