NEWS RELEASE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
A. COURTNEY COX, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
Nine Executive Drive, Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208, Telephone (618) 628-3700
For Immediate Release AUGUST 24, 2009
MADISON MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG AND GUN CHARGES
A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on August 21, 2009, ROY B. CHATT, age 22, of Madison, Illinois, pled guilty to a three-count indictment charging the unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The violations occurred on February 4, 2009.
The offense of the unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon carries with it a maximum penalty of not more than ten (10) years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three (3) years’ supervised release. The offense of possession with intent to distribute less than 5 grams of “crack” cocaine carries with it a maximum penalty of a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine of not more than $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least three (3) years. The offense of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries with it a maximum penalty of not less than 5 years’ imprisonment, which must run consecutive to the sentence imposed on other counts of the Indictment. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2009, in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in cooperation with the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office, as part of those agencies’ participation in Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nation-wide initiative intended to combat gun and drug crimes. The case was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott for prosecution.