Illinois Man Sentenced For Assaulting Federal Agents

St. Louis, MO – EXCEDRIN COLLINS was sentenced to 84 months in prison for forcibly assaulting agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives with an automobile.

According to court documents, on May 20, 2013, in the City of St. Louis, Collins forcibly assaulted agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), while the agents were engaged in the performance of their official duties, and in the commission of the assault, Collins used a deadly or dangerous weapon, that is, an automobile.

In the days leading up to May 20, 2013, an ATF undercover agent arranged to meet with Collins’ co-defendants Lonnell Wilson and Retonio Dickerson to purchase a firearm for $500.

On May 20, 2013, Collins drove Wilson and Dickerson to meet the undercover agent in a white Ford Expedition, a full-sized sport utility vehicle.  Collins, Wilson and Dickerson met the undercover agent at Sherman Park, in North St. Louis City.

With Collins and Dickerson present, Wilson showed a Browning 9mm semi-automatic pistol to the undercover agent.  The undercover agent, Wilson and Dickerson discussed the purchase of the Browning 9mm pistol. The undercover agent handed Wilson $500 in recorded ATF buy money.  Wilson handed the money to Dickerson, who counted the money and returned it to Wilson.  Dickerson then grabbed the Browning 9mm pistol away from the undercover agent.  Collins, Wilson and Dickerson fled to the Ford Expedition.  The entire transaction was audio and video recorded.

Wilson pointed and discharged the Browning 9mm pistol at the undercover agent, who was engaged in the performance of his official duties.  Collins, Wilson and Dickerson then fled in the Ford Expedition, with Collins driving.

While exiting Sherman Park, Collins knowingly and intentionally rammed the Ford Expedition into an ATF vehicle, in which three ATF agents were responding to the scene of the assault.  The ATF agents were engaged in the performance of their official duties.  The ATF vehicle sustained significant damage.

Collins fled from pursuing ATF agents at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour on busy residential streets, which recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to other persons. 

Collins, Madison, IL, pleaded guilty on January 9, 2014, to one felony count of forcibly assaulting an agent with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry.

This case was investigated by ATF.  Assistant United States Attorney Cristian M. Stevens is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.