Rockford Man Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was arrested Wednesday night on drug trafficking charges.

DEVONTE GORDON, 33, also known as "Slim," was indicted on June 19, 2018, and charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine in Rockford between September and November 2017, as well as one count of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in Rockford on Oct. 4, 2017. Gordon was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston and pleaded not guilty. Gordon is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on June 28, 2018, at 2:00 p.m.

TERVARIE T. LOTTIE, 30, of Rockford, also known as "Varie," "V," and "Ferrari," was also charged in the indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine in Rockford between September and November 2017. Lottie was already in federal custody pending trial on other charges.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Celinez Nunez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Gary Caruana, Winnebago County Sheriff; and Dan O’Shea, Rockford Police Chief. The investigation was conducted by the FBI-led Rockford Area Violent Gang Task Force, which includes the above agencies as well as the Loves Park and Freeport Police Departments.

Each count in the indictment carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison, followed by a period of supervised release of at least four years and up to life, and a fine of up to $5 million. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Talia Bucci.