A man from Illinois has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for his part in a gun trafficking conspiracy.
Derrick Stewart, Jr., 20, was sentenced on Tuesday afternoon by U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock, with 10 years to be followed by three years of supervised release. Stewart was convicted of firearms trafficking and conspiracy to traffic firearms.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents began an investigation after a high volume of firearms that were recovered in Chicago crimes had been purchased in north Mississippi. Some of the weapons had been purchased as recently as on the day before the offense.
Several of the guns were recovered in violent crimes and had machinegun devices attached that converted them to fire automatically. Investigators identified more than 60 firearms that were purchased illegally and transported to Chicago by Stewart and others.
“Illegal firearms traffickers are some of the main drivers of violence in cities like Chicago, and disrupting these networks is central to curbing gun crime,” U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner said. “AUSA Julie Addison is to be commended for leading this joint prosecution involving our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt the flow of guns to Chicago.”
The case was investigated by the Chicago Field Division of ATF with assistance from the ATF Oxford, Mississippi Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Howell Addison prosecuted the case.
“This defendant perpetuated violence as law enforcement recovered dozens of firearms he trafficked between Mississippi and the streets of Chicago,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Chicago Division Christopher Amon said. “We will continue to prioritize firearms trafficking investigations alongside the United States Attorney’s Office, holding accountable those who help to arm violent individuals.”
The investigation and prosecution of the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program aiming to bring together law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime.
