U.S. Department
of Justice
East Alton Man Sentenced For Drug And Money Laundering Offenses
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced that Demarcus L. Freeman was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison by the U.S. District Court in East St. Louis on Thursday, November 13, 2014.
Freeman, 33, is an East Alton resident. On August 7, 2014, Freeman pled guilty to federal charges of Distribution of Cocaine Base (“crack cocaine”) (2 counts); Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base; and Money Laundering.
At his change of plea hearing, Freeman admitted selling crack cocaine in Wood River, Illinois, on May 13, 2013 and again on June 4, 2013. Police stopped Freeman’s car on July 8, 2013, in Bethalto, Illinois, and seized 9 ounces of crack cocaine. Freeman admitted the cocaine in his car belonged to him.
Freeman also opened a credit union account in Wood River in the name of a relative. Freeman admitted laundering the proceeds of his drug dealing through the account, in an attempt to disguise the source of the money. Freeman laundered over $60,000. The federal government seized $10,010.39 from the account at the time of Freeman’s arrest. The United States Attorney’s Office has moved to forfeit the $10,000 as drug trafficking proceeds.
At Freeman’s sentence hearing on November 13, 2014, U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Reagan commented that “the 151 month sentence I have imposed is driven primarily by deterrence and the need to protect the public.” Judge Reagan noted that Freeman is a “career offender” under applicable federal sentencing guidelines, and that Freeman has numerous prior felony convictions for dealing drugs and domestic battery.
The investigation which resulted in Freeman’s arrest and conviction was conducted by the Wood River Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison.