Regina Lewis, Illegal Gun Purchase, Illinois 2023

URBANA, Ill. – Regina Lewis, 28, of Normal, Illinois, will spend the next eight-and-a-half years in federal prison for her role in a scheme to illegally acquire a firearm that was later used to kill Champaign Police Officer Christopher Oberheim. Lewis was sentenced December 22nd after pleading guilty to conspiracy to illegally purchase and transfer a firearm, and conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct – a desperate attempt to cover her tracks after the deadly shooting.

The case unfolded after Ashantae Corruthers, at the direction of Lewis and Darion M. Lafayette (deceased), purchased a Glock 48, nine-millimeter pistol and ammunition from a licensed dealer in Indianapolis on November 17, 2020. Corruthers lied on the required ATF form, falsely claiming she was the true buyer when the gun was intended for Lafayette, a convicted felon prohibited from owning firearms – a classic “straw purchase.” This put a weapon in the hands of a man who should never have possessed one.

But the conspiracy didn’t stop there. Lewis and Corruthers then attempted a brazen cover-up, concocting a false report to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in April 2021. They claimed the Glock had been stolen in March 2021, hoping to distance themselves from the weapon. Just 23 days after the false theft report, Lafayette used that very same firearm to ambush Champaign Police Officers Christopher Oberheim and Jeffrey Creel. Officer Oberheim was killed, and Officer Creel was wounded. Lewis and Corruthers doubled down on the lie, even misleading ATF Special Agents investigating the shooting, claiming Corruthers didn’t know Lafayette.

During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce acknowledged sentencing guidelines recommended a mere 18 to 24 months. However, prosecutors pushed for a nine-year sentence, citing the gravity of the crime and its devastating consequences. The judge ultimately landed on 8.5 years, a significant increase from the recommended minimum, and listened to heart-wrenching statements from Officer Oberheim’s four daughters and Officer Creel, who pleaded with the court for a harsher penalty. The pain inflicted on these families was palpable.

Lewis remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and will be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She faced up to five years for the gun conspiracy and up to 20 years for the misleading conduct charge, along with potential fines and supervised release. Her co-defendant, Ashantae Corruthers, is scheduled to be sentenced in Urbana on February 12, 2024. The investigation was led by the ATF, with Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller prosecuting the case. This sentencing serves as a stark reminder that aiding and abetting violent crime carries severe consequences, even when the trigger is pulled by someone else.

The fallout from this case continues, leaving a community in mourning and highlighting the dangerous consequences of illegal gun trafficking. The ATF is actively working to disrupt these networks and prevent firearms from falling into the hands of those who would use them to harm others. This case underscores the critical need for vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat gun violence and bring those responsible to justice.

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