Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced the arraignment of Henry R. Brown, a 54-year-old resident of Addison, Illinois. Brown faces charges related to drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms. The charges include unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, cannabis trafficking, unlawful use of weapons by a felon, and conspiracy for unlawful delivery of cannabis.
Raoul stated that these activities contribute to violent crime in Illinois communities. "Drug and gun trafficking lead to violent crime that has a devastating effect on communities throughout Illinois," he said. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between his office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) in addressing these issues.
The case was brought to Raoul's office following an investigation by the USPIS. It is alleged that in October 2021, Brown trafficked 2,500 grams of cannabis into Illinois with the intent to distribute it. Additionally, he is accused of storing over 5,000 grams of cannabis, more than 900 grams of fentanyl, and two handguns with ammunition at a storage facility in Addison.
Ruth Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the USPIS, commented on the role of postal inspectors in preventing illicit narcotics distribution through the U.S. Postal Service. "Postal Inspectors are committed to ensuring the U.S. Postal Service is not a mechanism for the distribution of illicit narcotics," she stated.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Steven Knight is handling the prosecution for Raoul’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau. This bureau is tasked with prosecuting multi-county cases involving drugs and guns under Illinois statute.
Sentences for these charges are served concurrently and will be determined by the court.