Rockford Man Convicted on Federal Drug Conspiracy Charges
ROCKFORD – A federal jury today convicted a Rockford, Ill., man of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Charles Gary, 34, also known as Do Dirty,
was found guilty following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Rockford.
According to the second superseding indictment and evidence at trial, as early as the summer of 2007 through September 2009, Gary and 14 other Rockford area individuals conspired to illegally sell large quantities of heroin and cocaine base (crack
) at numerous distributions sites in Rockford. As part of the conspiracy, some of the defendants transported heroin to Rockford, which the defendants diluted and then packaged into smaller amounts into corners of clear plastic bags orbaggies. The defendant’s put the small baggies of heroin into larger groups known as jabs.
Members of the conspiracy provided the jabs
to runners who sold the heroin on the streets of Rockford. The conspirators used cell phones to receive customer orders and arrange for heroin deliveries, using coded language to avoid detection and apprehension by law enforcement.
Gary faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison without parole for his role in the conspiracy. The Court must impose a reasonable sentence under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing for Gary is scheduled for April 11, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. The other 14 coconspirators all previously pled guilty.
The conviction was announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Andrew L. Traver, Special Agent-In-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; John J. Riley, Special Agent- In-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Hiram Grau, Director of the Illinois State Police; Joseph Bruscato, Winnebago County State's Attorney; Richard Meyers, Winnebago County Sherrif; and Chet Epperson, Rockford Police Chief. The charges were the result of a lengthy investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement, and coordinated by the United States Attorney.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark T. Karner and Scott R. Paccagnini.
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