Former East St. Louis Police Officer Indicted

A former East St. Louis Police officer was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2012, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Ramon T. Carpenter, 40, was indicted for making false statements to federal law enforcement officers during their investigation of a civil rights complaint.

The indictment alleges that in the early morning hours of May 8, 2012, a female driver was driving near the intersection of Louisiana Blvd. and 25th Street in East St. Louis, Illinois, when she encountered two on-duty East St. Louis Police officers. The driver was intoxicated and driving with open liquor at the time. The driver believed that she would be arrested by the officers for driving with no license, no insurance, and for driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI). The female alleged that she was driven to a secluded area in Jones Park in East St. Louis, where she felt that she had to perform oral sex on the officer to avoid going to jail. The charges state that when Carpenter was interviewed by federal agents that he falsely denied being present in Jones Park during his shift and that he also falsely denied receiving oral sex.

The crime of making a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years’ supervised release upon release from prison. However, the United States Sentencing Guidelines must be applied to the case and considered by the court during sentencing.

The investigation was conducted through the Metro East Public Corruption Task Force by agents from the Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven D. Weinhoeft.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, that charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Former East St. Louis Police Officer Charged with Felony Theft of Government Property

Larry D. Greenlee, 39, of Belleville, IL, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of theft or conversion of government property, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

The indictment alleges that Greenlee, while a police officer for the City of East St. Louis, failed an integrity test wherein federal agents placed a Rolex watch encircled with diamonds in a vehicle which appeared to be an abandoned stolen vehicle. Audio and video surveillance was in place around the vehicle. The indictment alleges that on September 17, 2010, Greenlee responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle and then inventoried the contents of the vehicle prior to having the vehicle towed. The indictment further alleges that Greenlee stole the Rolex watch from the vehicle.

If convicted on this charge, Greenlee faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years’ supervised release following any prison term.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Norman Smith.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, that charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Gun Shots in East St. Louis Result in Guilty Plea by High Ridge, Missouri Man

A High Ridge, Missouri resident pled guilty to the charge of illegally possessing a firearm when he was a previously convicted felon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton announced today. Arlanda Antonio Jones, 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 18, 2010. Jones is being held without bond.

According to court documents, on May 4, 2010, agents working the WAVE (Working Against Violent Elements) detail in East St. Louis had a tip that drugs were sold out of a residence on North 45th Street. Agents went to the address and saw a number of people standing around in the yard. As agents approached, they heard a gun shot. After taking cover, the agents cuffed all of the bystanders and began to investigate. Agents found a firearm on the ground in the back yard of the home. The firearm, a .380-caliber, Hi-Point, semi-automatic pistol, was loaded with ammunition. Jones admitted to possessing the firearm, and that he knew that he was not allowed to possess a firearm because of his prior felony conviction (Jones had a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Missouri). The Illinois State Police crime lab found Jones’s DNA on the firearm.

At his sentencing, Jones faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both; and three years’ supervised release. The sentencing hearing is set for March 16, 2012.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI). The case resulted from the efforts of the WAVE (Working Against Violent Elements) Task Force, which focuses its efforts on combating violent crime in East St. Louis, Washington Park, and surrounding communities. WAVE was formed in November 2009, and is a collaboration of law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police, MEGSI, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the East St. Louis Police Department, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS). The WAVE Task Force receives financial support through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide federal program which endeavors to address gun-related violence.

The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Liam Coonan.

Arrest by WAVE Team Results in 115-Month Federal Sentence

Charles C. Christian, 29, of East St. Louis, received a 115-month federal sentence following his conviction for the offenses of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances, possession of marijuana, and possession of crack cocaine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Following release from imprisonment, Christian will be on federal supervised release for three years. Christian has been in custody since November 17, 2010, following his arrest by the Working Against Violent Elements (WAVE) task force. A jury found him guilty of the charges on March 16, 2011.

The evidence at trial revealed that members of the WAVE task force encountered Christian in Brooklyn, Illinois, during the late evening hours of November 17, 2010. Officers approached Christian, who was on foot and apparently urinating in the weeds. As officers approached, Christian jumped back into his car and led officers in a high-speed chase. When officers retraced Christian’s path of flight, they discovered a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol and a bag of crack cocaine. Christian had marijuana in his pocket and in his vehicle. At sentencing, it was revealed that Christian was on parole at the time of the offense, and he has a lengthy criminal history.

United States Attorney Wigginton stated, “The public has no tolerance for armed parolees leading law enforcement officers on high speed chases. I am thankful that no police officers or innocent members of the public were harmed when Charles Christian decided he would try to outrun the police. I commend the WAVE team members for their efforts to restore our communities to the law abiding citizens who are tired of the guns, drugs, shootings, and disruptive conduct which occurs at all times of the day and night.”

The WAVE Task Force focuses its efforts on combating violent crime in East St. Louis, Washington Park, and surrounding communities. WAVE was formed in November, 2009, and is a collaboration of law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police, the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), the East St. Louis Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The WAVE Task Force receives financial support through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide federal program which endeavors to address gun-related violence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne M. Garrison.

East St. Louis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance

An East St. Louis man was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on April 8, 2011, for the unlawful possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Deontae Rice, 24, East St. Louis, Illinois, received a 46-month sentence, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

“Besides previously convicted felons, federal statutes prohibit possession of firearms by a range of prohibited individuals. In our ongoing effort to prevent all illegal possession of weapons, my office will use the full range of federal statutes to combat this type of crime,” said United States Attorney Wigginton.

In this case, Rice’s advisory guideline sentencing range was enhanced because the gun he possessed was stolen and had a magazine capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition. In addition, his guideline range was increased because Rice used the gun in connection with another felony offense—reckless discharge of a firearm. An order was also entered to forfeit the gun Rice illegally possessed. Rice has been in federal custody since his initial appearance on October 12, 2010, the above charge.

The violation occurred on May 25, 2010, when members of the W.A.V.E. task force responded to a call of shots fired and spotted the defendant with a firearm in his hand. Rice dropped the gun after being ordered to do so. At the scene, officers recovered three spent shell casings. The defendant, his mother, and his wife were all interviewed at the scene. The interviews were videotaped. The defendant stated that he had a confrontation with an individual at a gas station. The defendant followed the individual to a residence where the individual shot at him. The defendant fled to his mother’s house to get his gun and, when he allegedly saw the person who shot at him, returned fire in a residential neighborhood were children were present. The defendant said that he bought the firearm off the street from a “crackhead,” and that he knew he was not supposed to possess a firearm because he was on bond at the time of the offense in St. Clair County on a pending charge of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Finally, the defendant admitted using marijuana.

The district court, before imposing sentence, rejected the Rice’s claim of self-defense to escape the four-level enhancement for the reckless discharge of a firearm. As the district court noted, the defendant’s own actions (by following the individual to a residence) led to the ultimate confrontation in front of the defendant’s mother’s house, and that the defendant had other alternatives than firing back at the individual in a residential neighborhood. During the defendant’s videotaped statement, he admitted not calling the police because he was “in a rage.”

The case resulted from the efforts of the WAVE (Working Against Violent Elements) Task Force, which focuses its efforts on combating violent crime in East St. Louis, Washington Park, and surrounding communities. WAVE was formed in November 2009, and is a collaboration of law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police, the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the East St. Louis Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service. The WAVE Task Force receives financial support through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide federal program which endeavors to address gun-related violence. The case was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.

East St. Louis Woman Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon

An East St. Louis woman, convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison on March 2, 2011, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Merlene A. Smith, 49, of East St. Louis, received a 30-month sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Smith was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, to follow her release from imprisonment. Smith was also fined $100 and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Smith pled guilty to the charges on November 23, 2010. Smith has been in custody since her arraignment on September 30, 2010.

A factual stipulation filed with the court states:

1. The defendant was convicted of a felony on July 29, 2003, in St. Clair County, Illinois. The felony was unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

2. On June 2, 2009, the defendant was riding as a passenger in a vehicle in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois, when law enforcement agents observed the driver of the vehicle throw a metal object out the passenger window of the vehicle. The agents stopped the vehicle.

3. At the time of the stop, the agents observed the defendant with a crack pipe in her hand. The agents removed the crack pipe and found a small amount of crack cocaine inside the pipe. The agents then searched the vehicle and discovered a firearm—namely, an unloaded Smith & Wesson, Model 681, .357 Magnum caliber revolver, bearing serial number AJC363, as well as a box containing 49 live rounds of .38 caliber special ammunition.

4. The firearm had been manufactured outside the state of Illinois and had therefore traveled in interstate commerce prior to the defendant’s possession of it. The firearm was in working order and was capable of firing a projectile by action of explosive.

5. The defendant admitted having the firearm in her possession and stated that the driver of the vehicle knew nothing about the firearm.

The case resulted from the efforts of the WAVE (Working Against Violent Elements) Task Force, which focuses its efforts on combating violent crime in East St. Louis, Washington Park, and surrounding communities. WAVE was formed in November, 2009, and is a collaboration of law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police, the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the East St. Louis Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service. The WAVE Task Force receives financial support through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide federal program which endeavors to address gun-related violence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen B. Clark.

East St. Louis Man Sentenced for Weapons Offense

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on January 3, 2011, JIM L. SIMS, JR., age 36, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced in the United States District Court in East St. Louis to thirty-seven (37) months of imprisonment, three (3) years of supervised release, and was fined $250. SIMS had previously pled guilty on September 30, 2010, to possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

The violation occurred on February 24, 2010, when agents working a detail in East St. Louis received information that a male in a green Buick had a firearm. When the officers spotted the vehicle, it was stopped after committing several traffic violations were observed. The driver of the vehicle gave the officers consent to search the car. Officers found a Ruger, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, in the vehicle's glove compartment. The defendant was the front seat passenger in the vehicle. After the gun was found, the defendant immediately apologized to the driver and told the officers that the gun belonged to him. The defendant again admitted possession of the gun in a videotaped statement.

The case resulted from the efforts of the WAVE (Working Against Violent Elements) Task Force, which focuses its efforts on combating violent crime in East St. Louis, Washington Park, and surrounding communities. WAVE was formed in November 2009, and is a collaboration of law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police, the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, the East St. Louis Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service. The WAVE Task Force receives financial support through the Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide federal program which endeavors to address gun-related violence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.