Chicago Field Division
Photo used under Creative Commons from Wikimedia user buphoff
Welcome to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division. Our Division is responsible for ATF criminal enforcement and industry regulatory activities in the State of Illinois. Our dedicated work force is comprised of special agents, investigators, auditors, technicians and support staff.
ATF is committed to reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods. ATF’s Chicago Field Division special agents combat firearms violence by focusing their investigative efforts on armed violent offenders, career criminals, gun traffickers and gangs. We also work in partnership with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois to accomplish this mission.
Explosives and arson enforcement is an integral part of ATF’s overall violent crime reduction strategy. ATF’s Chicago Field Division special agents combat arson and explosives-related crimes by conducting independent investigations and by working in partnership with local and state fire investigators and police bomb squads.
ATF also has the duty of regulating the firearms and explosives industries. Our industry operations investigators work to ensure that all firearms and explosives are stored, handled and sold in a safe manner according to law.
We encourage all residents to get involved and assist us in our goal of reducing crime in our communities. Give us a call and let us know what we can do for you. Our phone number is (312) 846-7200.
Larry Ford
Division Management Team
- Larry Ford
- Special Agent In Charge (SAC)
- Dana K. Nichols
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- James Allison
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Michael Fitzgerald
- Director of Industry Operations (DIO)
- Thomas Ahern
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
Division Contact Information
Receive Chicago Press Release Updates
Two Chicago Latin King‘s Second-in-Command Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for RICO Conspiracy and Related Gang Related Crimes
February 11, 2013
CHICAGO – The second highest-ranking leader nationwide of the Latin Kings street gang was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after being convicted at trial in 2011 of racketeering conspiracy (RICO) and related charges involving narcotics trafficking and violence that plagued numerous neighborhoods on the city‘s north, south and west sides. The defendant, VICENTE GARCIA, Jr., 35, the Supreme Regional Inca
of the Almighty Latin King Nation, who oversaw the day-to-day illegal activities of all factions of the gang with some 10,000 members in Illinois alone, has been in federal custody since late 2008 and must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. More »
Two Chicago Area Men Sentenced on Federal Racketeering Conspiracy Charges
January 15, 2013
St. Louis, MO — Two Chicago area residents have been sentenced within the past week federal prison for Racketeering Conspiracy charges in United States District Court in St. Louis. More »
Rockford Man Convicted of Gun Charge as a Convicted Felon
January 11, 2013
ROCKFORD — A Rockford, Ill. man was convicted today after a three-day trial on a federal gun charge. Nicholas Stenson, 28, was found guilty by a federal jury following a trial before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. More »
Three Men Sentenced on Federal Racketeering Conspiracy Charges
January 4, 2013
St. Louis, MO – Three members of the Wheels of Soul Outlaw Motorcycle Gang were sentenced this week on Racketeering Conspiracy charges in United States District Court in St. Louis. More »