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Press Release

Chicago Man Admits Heroin Distributions In Marion County

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Illinois

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Marquise E. Ross, 24, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty today to charges returned against him in an indictment by a Federal Grand Jury in November 2014. Specifically, Ross pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin in Marion County (Count 1); and Distribution of Heroin on two occasions in July, 2014, in Marion County (Counts 5 and 7).

Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a $1 million fine, and not less than 3 years of supervised release after leaving prison. Both counts require an assessment of $100.

According to court documents, Ross agreed with his co-defendants to distribute heroin for profit in Centralia, Marion County, Illinois. Ross and the others shared a cell phone which customers would contact to order heroin. While a co-defendant often answered the shared cell phone and took the order, Ross or another would be sent to complete the transaction with the customer at whatever location was agreed upon.

Information leading to the charges against Ross was obtained in an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.

Updated September 1, 2015

Topic
Drug Trafficking