On December 5, 2011, Kevin Johnson, a twenty-six year old Belleville, IL, man was sentenced on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm in the District Court in East St. Louis, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Johnson was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment, 2 years supervised release, a $330 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Johnson also forfeited the weapon and ammunition.

Johnson had previously pled guilty and admitted that on July 28, 2010, he had knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition in East St. Louis, Illinois; and that he knew he was a convicted felon and the possession of the firearm and ammunition was illegal.

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 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.

This was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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