East St. Louis Man Sentenced for Heroin Offenses

On Friday, October 14, 2016, Urechan D. Brown, age 39, of East St. Louis, IL., received a sentence of 60 months’ imprisonment (5 years) in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin in Excess of 100 grams (just under 4 oz.). Brown was also sentenced to concurrent 60 month sentences for Distribution of Heroin, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin. When released from prison, Brown will have to serve a term of 4 years on supervised release, as well.

Brown pled guilty to the three federal charges on June 3, 2016. At his change of plea hearing, Brown admitted that he and co-defendant Kelvin B. Hughes had distributed over 100 grams of heroin in East St. Louis between June 2014 and August 2015. On September 8, 2016, Brown’s nephew and co-defendant Kelvin Hughes was also sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment.

Brown has been continuously confined in federal custody since his arrest in August 2015.

The investigation which resulted in Brown’s arrest and conviction was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Illinois State Police Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI); and by the Clinton County, IL Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison.