PEORIA, Ill. – Two Peoria men have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, as well as firearm charges.
39-year-old Kelvin Patterson, Jr. was given a sentence of 12 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. He must also pay a fine of over $24,000, which is separate from money forfeited in the case.
A federal grand jury indicted Patterson with drug and firearm charges in May 2023. The grand jury later returned a superseding indictment adding his partner, 30-year-old Marcus Burnside to the charges.
In June 2024, Burnside pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana and to possessing a firearm for drug trafficking. Patterson pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count in November 2024.
Burnside was sentenced in October 2024, to a total of 120 months in prison, consisting of two consecutive 60-month sentences for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and for possession of a firearm for drug trafficking.
The court also ordered that Burnside serve four years of supervised release following his sentence.
At sentencing, the government presented evidence that the two men engaged in a conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana from March 2021 through April 2023. At the time, Patterson had a loft apartment on Main Street in Peoria that he and Burnside used to store and distribute marijuana.
Over the course of an investigation, police saw several individuals leave the building, who were stopped and searched, and various amounts of marijuana were seized.
In total, Patterson and Burnside were responsible for the distribution and possession of 310 kilograms (683 pounds) of marijuana.
Also at Patterson’s sentencing, the judge noted that Patterson’s above-guideline sentence was justified given the severity of the conduct involved in this conspiracy.
The judge also required both Patterson and Burnside to forfeit items recovered by police during a raid of the Main Street apartment, including a Glock model 30, .45 caliber handgun; $23,860.00 ; and a money counter.
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana are five to 40 years in prison, and up to a $5 million fine, followed by at least four years of supervised release. The penalties for possession of a firearm for drug trafficking are five years to life imprisonment, served consecutive to other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.
Officers with the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, Peoria Police, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois Department of Corrections; Illinois State Police, with assistance from the I.R.S., investigated the case.
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