Rockford Man Arrested on Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was arrested Tuesday by federal law enforcement officers on drug trafficking and firearm charges. 

ANTWON D. TATE, 29, was indicted on April 10, 2018, by a federal grand jury in Rockford on five counts of distributing heroin in Rockford in January and February, two counts of illegally possessing a firearm (two 9mm Hi-Point rifles) as a convicted felon, and one count of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Celinez Nunez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. 

Tate was arraigned Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston and pleaded not guilty.  Tate is currently in custody and scheduled to appear before Judge Johnston for a detention hearing on April 26, 2018.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Each count of distributing heroin carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  Each charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, and the charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. 

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret J. Schneider.