Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Urbana, Ill. – A Charleston, Ill., man, Arnett Deshaun Brown, 42, made his initial appearance in federal court today in Urbana. Brown, aka Shaun, of the 1500 block of Woodlawn, was indicted on charges of possession of heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of firearms by a felon in early September; however the indictment remained sealed pending Brown’s court appearance. Brown appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long who ordered that Brown remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Trial has been scheduled on Nov. 24, 2015.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the East Central Illinois Task Force. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is prosecuting the case in the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division.

The nine-count indictment alleges that Brown possessed heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute on June 11, 2014, and heroin and marijuana with intent to distribute in February 2015. Brown is also charged with possession of firearms after being convicted of a felony. Between Feb. 3 and Feb. 6, 2015, the indictment alleges that Brown possessed 11 firearms, including handguns and two rifles. Brown also faces one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (five counts) is up to 30 years in prison if the defendant has a prior felony drug conviction. For possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (one count), the penalty is a mandatory minimum five years in prison served consecutive to any sentence for the underlying crime. For possession of a firearm by a felon (three counts) the penalty is up to 10 years in prison.

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

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