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Evanston Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Marijuana Distribution and Money Laundering
CHICAGO — In a move to combat organized crime, a federal judge sentenced a 32-year-old Evanston man to 96 months in prison for distributing more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and laundering the proceeds through luxury auto purchases and high-end property leases.
JONATHAN TANKSON, 32, of Evanston, coordinated bulk shipments of marijuana from large-scale growers in California. Between December 2010 and December 2013, Tankson flew to California at least twice per month, typically bringing with him on the plane $400,000 to $500,000 in cash.
He often purchased 100 to 200 pounds of marijuana at a time, with the drugs being shipped on vans and tractor trailers to stash houses in Chicago. One of the stash houses was located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, while another was set up in a penthouse apartment in the city’s River West neighborhood.
Tankson pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Tankson used drug proceeds to purchase several luxury automobiles through straw purchasers. Between June 2011 and December 2013, Tankson orchestrated the purchases of a Porsche Cayenne sport utility vehicle for $140,000, a Mercedes-Benz S63 sedan for $108,000, of which $75,000 was paid in cash after trading in another Mercedes, an Audi A8 sedan for $80,000, and several other expensive vehicles.
Tankson was arrested in December 2013. During a search of his Lincoln Park stash house, law enforcement discovered more than $1 million in cash, approximately 75 kilograms of cannabis stuffed into numerous plastic bags, five suitcases filled with cannabis, 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and two 9mm pistol magazines.
Tankson’s sentence was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffery Magee, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; James D. Robnett, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division; and Eddie T. Johnson, Chicago Police Superintendent.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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