Three Kankakee Area Felons Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms

Urbana, Ill. B Three Kankakee area men, with prior felony convictions, have been sentenced to federal prison terms for illegal possession of firearms, as announced by U.S. Attorney Jim Lewis, Central District of Illinois. The men, who have been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since their arrests in September 2014, were sentenced on Friday, Feb. 20.

Antwon T. Crite, 38, last known address St. Anne, Ill., was sentenced to 10 years (120 months) in prison. According to the government’s factual basis presented in court, between November 2013 and June 2014, Crite illegally sold 10 different guns, including three sawed-off shotguns, a SKS assault rifle, and a handgun with an obliterated serial number. Crite has prior Illinois convictions for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Charles V. Williams, 39, of the 1200 block of E. Chestnut St., Kankakee, was ordered to serve five years in prison (60 months). On June 27, 2014, Williams illegally sold a 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol to a person he believed to be a drug dealer, according to court documents. Williams has prior convictions for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, illegal possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance.

Carlton Lashawn Smith, 35, of the 400 block of S. Rosewood Ave., Kankakee, was ordered to serve two and one-half years, (30 months) in prison. On May 17, 2011, Smith illegally sold a .32 caliber pistol. Smith has prior Illinois convictions for attempted armed robbery and delivery of a controlled substance.

The cases are the result of ongoing investigations related to gun violence in the Kankakee area by the Kankakee Area Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Kankakee Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller. The Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police, and Kankakee County Corrections assisted with the initial arrests in September 2014.