Rockford Man Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was arrested this morning on drug trafficking charges.

JOSE TREJO, 28, was indicted on Nov. 6, 2018, on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute - and to distribute - 500 grams or more of cocaine in Rockford between July 8, 2017, and June 20, 2018, and five counts of distributing quantities of cocaine on July 8, 2017, July 13, 2017, Aug. 5, 2017, Sept. 11, 2017, and Sept. 26, 2017. Trejo is scheduled to appear in federal court in Rockford for an initial appearance and arraignment today at 2:00 p.m.

The conspiracy count carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison, a period of supervised release of at least four years and up to life, and a fine of up to $5 million. Each distribution count carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a period of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life, and fine of up to $1 million. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

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

The arrest was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Brian McKnight, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; Dan O’Shea, Rockford Police Chief; Gary Caruana, Winnebago County Sheriff; and Leo P. Schmitz, Director of the Illinois State Police. The federal investigation was conducted by the DEA Rockford Task Force, Rockford Police Department, Illinois State Police Stateline Area Narcotics Team (SLANT), and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department. Homeland Security Investigations assisted in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Pedersen.