Rock Island Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Heroin Distribution Resulting in Death

Rock Island, Ill. – U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow today sentenced Phil Trent, 52, of Rock Island, to serve 25 years in federal prison for distributing and conspiring to distribute heroin that resulted in the death of a 21 year old man in August 2014.

On July 1, 2016, a jury convicted Trent on all counts charged related to his distributing and conspiring to distribute heroin in the Rock Island area from early July through September 2014. Evidence presented by the government at trial demonstrated that directly or through co-conspirators, Trent distributed heroin to undercover agents on three specific occasions: Aug. 13, Oct. 1, and Oct. 2, 2014. The jury also convicted Trent for distribution of heroin that resulted in the death of Tyler Corzette, on Aug. 29, 2014. 

Two other defendants, Kyle Hull and Curtis Land, both pled guilty in May 2015, to their respective role in distributing the fatal dose of heroin to Corzette. On Aug. 17, 2016, the two were sentenced to federal prison; Hull to serve eight years; Land to serve 11 years.

The Rock Island Police Department, with assistance from the Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, investigated the charges. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Don Allegro and Meredith DeCarlo.