A Marquette Heights resident, Dalton Lee Mattus, aged 35, received a sentence of 57 months in prison on March 5, 2025. This will be followed by three years of supervised release. The charges against him include possession of a firearm as a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
During the sentencing hearing presided over by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, it was revealed that Mattus had previous criminal convictions in Tazewell and Peoria Counties that barred him from owning firearms. In May 2024, Mattus was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Pekin Police Department officers. Officers confiscated a locked bag from the car during the stop. A search warrant for the bag led to the discovery of a stolen Springfield Armory XD-S .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol and two unregistered destructive devices made from cardboard tubing, metal BBs, and chemical powder.
Further investigation with a search warrant at Mattus's residence uncovered three more unregistered destructive devices and materials for making additional devices. Officers also seized 50 rounds of live ammunition and equipment for assembling and disassembling firearms.
Judge Mihm noted the seriousness of the case, particularly highlighting that "the explosives were homemade and were intended to harm others," adding that this situation is "about as bad as it gets."
Mattus was initially arrested by Pekin Police Department in May 2024. A federal complaint followed two weeks later, leading to an indictment in June 2024. He pleaded guilty in October 2024.
The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon can reach up to 15 years' imprisonment. The maximum term for possessing both a stolen firearm and an unregistered destructive device is ten years each, with each count allowing up to three years of supervised release.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force which comprises agents from several departments such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Peoria Police Department; Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; Illinois State Police; along with participation from Pekin Police Department and Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department.
This case forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, this initiative emphasizes fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.