Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Rockford Man Arrested on Drug-Trafficking and Firearm Charges
ROCKFORD — A Rockford, Ill. man was arrested yesterday by federal law enforcement officers on drug-trafficking and firearm charges. ANTWON D. TATE, 29, was indicted on April 10, 2018, by a federal grand jury in Rockford and charged with five counts of distributing heroin in Rockford between January and February 2018, two counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, namely two 9mm Hi-Point rifles, and one count of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Each count of distributing heroin carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Each charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and the charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number carries a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
Tate was arraigned yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston and pleaded not guilty. Tate is currently in custody and scheduled to appear in federal court in Rockford before Magistrate Johnston for a detention hearing on April 26, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The arrest was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Celinez Nunez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret J. Schneider.
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