ROCKFORD, IL — A Rockford man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard on federal charges of drug trafficking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
ANTWAN D. MANLEY, 27, was sentenced to 154 months in prison on the drug trafficking charge and 60 months on the firearm charge, to be served consecutively, for a total sentence of 17 years and ten months in federal prison.
Manley pleaded guilty on Nov. 27, 2019, to one count of possessing with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine base, and marijuana, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In the written plea agreement, Manley admitted that on Jan. 11, 2018, he possessed in a vehicle approximately 21 baggies of heroin, 24 baggies of marijuana, and a bag of cocaine base in the form of crack cocaine. Manley admitted that he also possessed in the same vehicle a loaded, black Beretta 9mm pistol that previously had been stolen, as well as approximately $6,950 in drug trafficking proceeds, four cell phones, a digital scale, and a box of latex gloves. Manley admitted that he intended to distribute the heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana to street-level users, and that he possessed the loaded pistol to protect himself, his drug inventory, and his drug trafficking proceeds from individuals who may attempt to rob him of the drugs or money, including customers and rival drug dealers. Manley also admitted that he had distributed heroin to an individual cooperating with law enforcement on two occasions in November and December 2017.
The sentencing was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Kristen De Tineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Dan O’Shea, Chief of the Rockford Police Department. The federal investigation was conducted by the FBI-led Rockford Area Violent Gang Task Force, which includes the above agencies as well as the Loves Park and Freeport Police Departments. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Talia Bucci.