East St. Louis Man Sentenced For Firearm Offense

Antoine T. Thomas, 37, from East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced on October 25, 2013, in Federal District Court in East St. Louis, on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of a controlled substance, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Thomas was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison; two years supervised release, a $500 fine and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

Facts presented in court revealed that on June 29, 2010, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence in East St. Louis, Illinois. A search of the home led to the seizure of two loaded revolvers, marijuana and three digital scales. Thomas admitted ownership of the two firearms and marijuana found in the household.

This case resulted from the efforts of the WAVE (Working Against Violent Elements) Task Force, which focuses its efforts on combating violent crime tin East St. Louis, Washington Park, and surrounding communities. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.