Belleville Narc Sentenced for Cocaine Plot, Gun Use

Belleville, IL – A hard-hitting sentence has been meted out to Dewayne Hill, 40, of Belleville, Illinois, who was today sentenced to serve a total of 15 years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy and the use of a firearm in furtherance of drug crimes. United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton announced that Hill pleaded guilty on October 3, 2014, to Counts 1 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine) and 6 (Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Previously Convicted Felon).

Hill received a concurrent sentence of 10 years for Count 1 and an additional 5 years for Count 2, making the total penalty 15 years. He was also sentenced to 5 years’ supervised release following his imprisonment, ordered to pay a $600 fine, and a $300 assessment.

The ATF investigation began in April 2013 when an agent posed as a cocaine distributor for a Los Angeles-based trafficking organization. During meetings with Hill and other conspirators, it was revealed that Hill would protect the drug’s delivery using a fully loaded 9mm pistol.

Hill has been in custody since his May 7, 2014, arrest. All of his co-conspirators have pleaded guilty except for Martez Moore, who is yet to be sentenced.

The ATF special agent first met Martez Moore and later Antwone Johnson, Dewayne Hill, Brian Matthews, Bryant Sawyer, Jaren Jamison, and former East St. Louis police detective Orlando Ward. Moore was seeking to secure 10 kilograms of cocaine with Hill as his ‘right hand man’ for protection during the exchange.

The prosecution in this case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.