Adan Godinez, Attempted Murder of DEA Officers, Joliet IL, 2016

Chicago’s federal grand jury has levied an array of serious charges against Adan Godinez, 31, from Morris, Illinois. Godinez is accused of attempting to murder two DEA Task Force officers during a drug sting in Joliet on Aug. 30, 2016.

The alleged attack occurred in the parking lot of the Louis Joliet Mall. According to the indictment, Godinez not only tried to kill the officers but also faces additional counts for conspiracy and firearms violations. His co-defendant, Fernando Godinez, 44, from Cicero, is charged with similar offenses.

The initial phase of the operation was set in motion after Adan Godinez agreed to sell cocaine to an undercover DEA officer who remained incognito to Godinez. The encounter ended dramatically when Adan Godinez opened fire on law enforcement officials upon their approach. An exchange of gunfire followed, but miraculously no officers were injured. Both defendants sustained injuries but survived the shootout.

Arraignments for both suspects have been set for Oct. 27, 2016, at 11:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox. The charges against Adan Godinez could result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years or life imprisonment, while Fernando Godinez faces up to 10 years or life in prison.

The investigation and subsequent arrest were made possible through the collaborative efforts of the DEA, the Joliet Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian S. Wallach and Richard M. Rothblatt are representing the government in this case.

Despite the charges, Godinez remains presumed innocent until proven guilty. The public is reminded that an indictment does not equate to a conviction, and he is entitled to a fair trial where the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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