Eshawn M. Reed, Cocaine Trafficking, Wisconsin 2021

Beloit Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Cocaine Trafficking & Illegal Gun Possession

A Beloit man has been sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for distributing crack cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Eshawn M. Reed, 40, was sentenced on April 6, 2023 by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson.

Reed was found guilty of distributing crack cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He pleaded guilty to these charges on April 6, 2023. The charges against Reed were the result of an investigation conducted by the Janesville, City of Beloit, and Town of Beloit Police Departments, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On April 6, July 19, and August 5, 2021, Janesville Police Department officers purchased crack cocaine from Reed in Janesville using a confidential informant. On August 10, 2021, law enforcement officers planned to arrest Reed and search his residence in Janesville. However, Reed did not pull over and instead fled in his vehicle at a high rate of speed.

Reed's vehicle was searched, and officers found a loaded Ruger 57 handgun, an additional loaded magazine, a bag containing 25 grams of crack cocaine sitting on top of a stack of $4,380 in cash, an additional $15,790 in cash, and 1,063 grams of marijuana. Reed's DNA was found on the firearm.

Reed was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm based on multiple prior felony convictions. During the time of the controlled buys and arrest, he was on state supervision for three felony cases – one involving second degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon, a second case involving maintaining a drug trafficking place, and a third case involving possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. His state supervision has since been revoked and he is currently serving a total sentence of 5 years in state prison with an anticipated release date of November 7, 2026. Reed's 4-year federal sentence on the cocaine distribution charge will run concurrently with the remainder of Reed's state prison sentence, and his 5-year federal sentence on the firearm charge will run consecutively to the cocaine distribution charge as well as Reed's state prison sentences.

Judge Peterson ordered Reed to serve 9 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. This sentence is a result of Reed's extensive history of crime, which included a prior federal conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. The charges against Reed were the result of an investigation conducted by the Janesville, City of Beloit, and Town of Beloit Police Departments, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwi/pr/beloit-man-sentenced-9-years-cocaine-trafficking-illegal-gun-possession