Rockford Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was indicted Tuesday in federal court on multiple counts of drug trafficking and firearm offenses.

ANTWAN D. MANLEY, 25, was charged with possessing with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine base and marijuana, in Rockford on Jan. 11, 2018.  Manley was also charged with possessing a 9-mm pistol as a convicted felon on Jan. 11, 2018, and possessing that firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.  In addition, Manley was charged with distributing heroin in Rockford on Nov. 27, 2017, and Dec. 6, 2017.  

Manley, who has been in federal custody since his arrest on Jan. 11, 2018, will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston for his arraignment today at 3:30 p.m.

Each of the drug-trafficking charges carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, and the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  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 defendant 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 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Dan O’Shea, Chief of the Rockford Police Department.  The federal 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.  The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the investigation.

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