Chicago Man Indicted on Federal Charges for Allegedly Illegally Selling and Possessing Firearms

CHICAGO ― A Chicago man was indicted on federal firearms charges alleging that he illegally sold firearms and illegally possessed nearly two dozen firearms, including assault rifles, handguns, and shotguns earlier this year. All of the firearms were seized by ATF agents following alleged purchases by an undercover confidential source, federal law enforcement officials announced today.

The defendant, JIMMY WRIGHT, also known as “Lil Man,” 28, of Chicago, was charged with one count of selling firearms without a federal firearms dealer license and eight counts of being a convicted felon-in-possession of 22 firearms in a nine-count indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury.

Wright has remained in federal custody since he was arrested on Oct. 7 and charged in a criminal complaint. He will be arraigned on a date to be determined in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

According to the charges, between July 21 and Sept. 22, 2014, Wright illegally sold firearms without a federal license. According to the complaint affidavit, the confidential source purchased at least 12 firearms from Wright on six different dates between July 22 and Sept. 2. These firearms included two assault rifles, seven handguns, two shotguns, and a “Tec 9” semiautomatic handgun with an obliterated serial number and an extended magazine.

The eight felon-in-possession counts allege that Wright illegally possessed a total of 22 firearms on eight different dates between July 22 and Sept. 22 of this year.

The indictment was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Carl Vasilko, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; nd Garry McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

Each count of being a felon-in-possession of firearms carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and selling firearms with a federal license carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and all nine counts carry a maximum fine of $250,000. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Storino.

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.