ROCKFORD — Steven Baxter, 40, from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, has been sentenced to 126 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and violating the terms of his court-supervised release.
Baxter pleaded guilty to charges of illegal firearm possession and violating supervised release earlier this year. Monday’s sentence by U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston includes 104 months for the firearms charge and an additional 22 months for supervised release violations.
During a visit to Rockford in 2022, Baxter entered a Wing Stop restaurant with a handgun. Agitated over his order, he threatened employees and brandished the gun before leaving. Later, during a traffic stop on Interstate 90 in Kane County, Ill., Baxter admitted to driving with a loaded firearm and an additional pistol, despite being a previously convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.
At the time of his arrest, Baxter was serving supervised release following an unrelated federal firearms conviction. His illegal possession of firearms violated court supervision terms.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher C. Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Rockford Police Department and the Kane County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora A. Anderson highlighted Baxter’s pattern of illegal firearm possession and brandishing as a threat to community safety and court orders.
RELATED: Casino Bomb Threat Lands Man in Court
RELATED: Erie Felon Djimon Dapree Johnson Sentenced for Fentanyl and Firearms
Related Federal Cases
- East Saint Louis Felon Indicted for Illegal Firearm Possession · Illinois
- East Alton Felon Roof Gets 30-Month Sentence for Illegal Firearm Possession · Illinois
- Missouri Felon Sentenced for Firearm Possession in Illinois · Illinois
- Convicted Felon Davis Guilty of Illegal Gun Possession in Chicago · Illinois
- AG James vs. Fed’s Illegal Guard Deployment · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News