Peoria Felon Melahn Gets 2 Years for Gun Possession

PEORIA, IL – Another gun-toting felon off the streets of Peoria. Christopher J. Melahn, 35, of the 1400 block of North Rhodora Avenue, received a 24-month federal prison sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm. This case, while seemingly isolated, underscores the constant flow of illegal weapons into our communities and the revolving door of criminals who repeatedly endanger public safety.

The sentencing, handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade, stems from a May 2023 investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Agents received credible information that Jamarcus J. Hollingsworth, 30, a convicted felon, was not only in possession of firearms but actively attempting to sell a pistol on the streets of Peoria. The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force quickly mobilized.

The investigation led to Hollingsworth’s arrest at a hotel on West War Memorial Drive. But he wasn’t alone. Agents discovered both Hollingsworth and Melahn, also a previously convicted felon, were packing heat. The discovery of two felons with firearms in one location speaks volumes about the networks and disregard for the law operating in this city. A federal criminal complaint was filed against both men in May 2023, followed by a formal indictment in June 2023.

Hollingsworth, who went down in September 2023 with a guilty plea, already received a harsher sentence – 57 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release – in January 2024. Melahn followed suit with his own guilty plea in October 2023. Both men have been cooling their heels in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since their arrests last May. The maximum penalty for possessing a firearm as a felon is a hefty 15 years in prison, plus up to three years of supervised release.

The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force – a coalition of the ATF, Peoria Police Department, Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois Department of Corrections, and Illinois State Police – handled the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna prosecuted the case. This wasn’t just a win for the feds; it was a coordinated effort showing what can be achieved when agencies work together.

Federal officials emphasize this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program’s core tenets – building community trust, supporting local organizations, focusing enforcement, and measuring results – are designed to create lasting change. But until we address the root causes of crime and provide real opportunities for those at risk, these sentences will continue to be a temporary fix in a city drowning in gun violence.

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