Pontoon Beach Man’s Cocaine Deal Goes Up in Smoke
Steve P. Kennedy, 51, of St. Louis, has been sentenced to 87 months behind bars for attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The offenses all occurred on August 12, 2020, when Kennedy and his co-defendant, Stephen Brown, drove to a restaurant in Pontoon Beach, Illinois, intending to purchase 2 kilograms of cocaine. The man they were meeting was a confidential source working at the direction of law enforcement. DEA agents arrested Kennedy and Brown at the restaurant shortly after they arrived.
At the time of his arrest, Kennedy was carrying a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an attached silencer and seven loaded magazines, along with $33,000 in cash. Kennedy has a prior felony drug conviction from Mississippi that prohibits him from lawfully possessing a gun.
Brown had another $5,000 in his car and was also charged. His sentencing will be held in October.
As part of the sentence, Chief United States District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel ordered Kennedy to forfeit his interest in the seized cash, pay a $150 fine, and serve a 3-year term of supervised release. The case was investigated by the DEA in Fairview Heights.
Kennedy’s guilty plea in May marked the end of a long and complicated case, one that ultimately led to his downfall. The DEA’s work in the Fairview Heights office was instrumental in bringing Kennedy to justice, and their efforts have made the community safer.
The sentence handed down by Judge Rosenstengel is a stern one, and it reflects the seriousness of Kennedy’s crimes. As the community continues to grapple with the effects of the opioid epidemic, cases like this serve as a reminder of the importance of law enforcement’s role in keeping our streets safe.
Kennedy’s sentence is a warning to those who would seek to profit from the sale of illicit drugs: the consequences will be severe. The community can rest a little easier knowing that this man will be behind bars for a long time to come.
Related Federal Cases
- Texas Cocaine Kingpin Sentenced to Life in Prison · Illinois
- Badge & Blow: Deputy Busted in TN Cocaine Ring · Tennessee
- Fentanyl Kingpin Sentenced to 22 Years for Trafficking, Gun Crimes · Michigan
- Kingpin ‘Lavish’ Lewis Sentenced for Multi-State Sex Trafficking Scheme · Louisiana
- Glock Switch Kingpin Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison · Tennessee
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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