Cedric Marks, Illegal Gun Possession, Rockford IL, 2023

ROCKFORD – A Rockford man with a criminal history is headed to federal prison for nearly five years after being caught with a loaded handgun during a 2019 traffic stop. CEDRIC MARKS, 35, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber to four years and nine months – 57 months – in federal prison.

Marks pleaded guilty last year to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. The case stemmed from a September 4, 2019 incident where a Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over the vehicle Marks was riding in for speeding. The deputy detected the smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, prompting an exit request from Marks.

Instead of complying, Marks made a run for it, ignoring the officer’s commands and attempting to evade handcuffs. During the brief foot chase, Marks dropped a backpack. Inside, investigators found a loaded .38-caliber handgun containing five rounds of ammunition, along with drugs, drug paraphernalia, and cash. Marks’ prior felony conviction legally barred him from possessing any firearm.

The incident escalated from a simple traffic stop to a federal case, highlighting the ATF’s commitment to cracking down on illegal firearm possession. Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for these crimes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd prosecuted the case.

Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Morris Pasqual, stated that the sentencing is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative – a violent crime reduction strategy focused on prosecuting individuals involved in firearm offenses. The PSN program, deployed across the Northern District of Illinois, targets a broad range of violent crimes, with a particular emphasis on illegal guns.

Marks’ case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries severe consequences. The ATF and local law enforcement continue to collaborate in efforts to remove illegal weapons from the streets and prosecute those who put the public at risk. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office provided crucial assistance in the investigation leading to Marks’ conviction.

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