ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was sentenced today by U.S.
District Judge Philip G. Reinhard on a federal drug trafficking charge. QUINCY L. ATMORE (also known as “Q”), 46, of
Rockford, Ill., was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison, to be followed by
3 years of supervised release. Atmore
pleaded guilty to distributing heroin on Jan. 17, 2018. In the written plea agreement, Atmore
admitted that between October 2015 and September 2016, he operated a heroin
trafficking business in the Rockford area, and maintained two cell phone lines
as heroin hotlines for customers to order and purchase heroin. Atmore typically sold user quantity amounts
of heroin, such as a gram or one-half gram, but occasionally did larger
transactions. Atmore admitted he engaged
in a large number of transactions each day, selling at least 10 to 15 grams of
heroin a day resulting in sales of at least 4500 grams of heroin during the
time period that he operated his heroin trafficking business. Atmore also admitted that on Sept. 7, 2016,
he possessed a firearm in a vehicle he was driving near a BP Station on Auburn
Street and that he possessed the firearm for protection when conducting drug
transactions.
MAURICE D. NEAL (also known as “Moe”), 35, of Rockford, is
also charged with conspiracy to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin, in
addition to charges of distributing heroin in Rockford, Ill., from October 2015
through September 2016. Neal is
currently in federal custody pending trial.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is
not evidence of guilt. Neal is presumed
innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden
of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The drug conspiracy charge carries a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence
and a maximum potential penalty of up to life in federal prison, and a fine of
up to $10 million. Each count of
distribution of heroin carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in
prison, and a fine of up to $1 million.
If Neal is convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under
federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing
Guidelines.
The sentencing was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United
States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Brian M. McKnight,
Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Drug Enforcement
Administration; and Leo P. Schmitz, Director of the Illinois State Police. The case was investigated by the Rockford
Resident Agency of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Chicago Field Office,
and the Stateline Area Narcotics Team (“SLANT”), a task force led by the
Illinois State Police. The Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, and the Rockford
Police Department assisted in the investigation.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S.
Attorney Margaret J. Schneider.
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