Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that David Stewart, a resident of Aurora, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to the unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. This plea follows an investigation into drug and gun activities in the Chicagoland area. Stewart, 41, received a sentence of ten years and six months in prison from Kane County Circuit Court Judge Julia Yetter.
Raoul emphasized the broader impact of such criminal activities on communities: "Illicit drug and firearm sales have a destabilizing effect on neighborhoods and often fuel an increase in other forms of criminal activity," he stated. He reaffirmed his commitment to working with federal agencies and local law enforcement to address these issues.
The charges against Stewart were part of a larger case involving seven other defendants, initiated in December 2022 after a joint investigation by Raoul's office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Chicago Field Division (ATF), along with several local law enforcement agencies. The investigation revealed involvement by known suburban gang members in illegal drug and gun sales. Stewart was specifically charged after allegedly selling cocaine to an ATF confidential informant.
Assistant Attorney General Steven Knight represented Raoul’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau in this case. The bureau is tasked with prosecuting multi-county cases related to drugs, guns, or electronics under Illinois statute. It frequently collaborates with state and federal law enforcement agencies to tackle complex organized criminal activities.