PEORIA, IL – Robert Lee Ford, 38, of Peoria, Illinois, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being sentenced to 120 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade, marks the culmination of a hard-nosed investigation by the DEA and Peoria Police Department.
The bust began to unfold on May 10, 2022, when Ford allegedly peddled 100.6 grams of methamphetamine – a shockingly pure 90% – to an unknown buyer. Authorities didn’t let up. Less than a month later, on May 30th, a joint DEA/Peoria PD surveillance team watched Ford park his vehicle at a gas station on Lincoln Avenue. When Ford went inside, officers moved in, spotting a large baggie of suspected meth brazenly sitting in the center console of his car.
The scene at the gas station counter was swift. Ford was arrested, and a search of his person revealed $2,500 in cold, hard cash stuffed in his wallet. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up another clear plastic baggie containing 111.9 grams of methamphetamine, this batch testing at 81% purity. That’s a significant quantity of poison hitting the streets, and these officers stopped it.
Ford was indicted in June 2022 and, facing overwhelming evidence, entered a guilty plea in September 2022. He’s been cooling his heels in the custody of the U.S. Marshals ever since. While the statutory maximum for this crime reaches for life imprisonment and a $10 million fine, Judge McDade settled on the 120-month sentence, to be followed by five years of supervised release – a long stretch, but a message sent nonetheless.
Assistant United States Attorney Ronald L. Hanna skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting the damning evidence that sealed Ford’s fate. This case isn’t isolated; it’s part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to bring together law enforcement at all levels and the communities they serve to combat violent crime. The DOJ launched a renewed focus on PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, and focused enforcement.
The streets of Peoria are a little safer tonight, thanks to the combined efforts of federal and local law enforcement. While one dealer is off the streets, the fight against the flow of methamphetamine – and the devastation it leaves in its wake – continues. Grimy Times will continue to report on those who prey on our communities and the officers who risk their lives to bring them to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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