Rockford Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine and possessing firearms to protect his drug trafficking operation.

CORNELL FINLEY, 48, pleaded guilty earlier this year to knowingly and intentionally possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute and possessing two handguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Finley admitted in a plea agreement that he possessed the loaded guns in Rockford for the purpose of protecting his drug supply and his drug trafficking proceeds.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Finley to 156 months in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The Winnebago County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora Anderson.