Tajurie Amir Bennett, Machinegun Possession, Illinois 2024

PEORIA, IL – Tajurie Amir Bennett, 20, of Peoria, Illinois, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 41 months for illegally possessing a machinegun. The sentence, handed down on January 4th by U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, also includes three years of supervised release. Bennett’s troubles began February 24, 2023, when he allegedly participated in a brazen drive-by shooting on West Gift Avenue.

According to federal prosecutors, ShotSpotter technology detected 15 rounds of fully automatic gunfire originating from Bennett and an accomplice. The bullets ripped into the front of a residence and narrowly missed hitting a gas utility line at a nearby home. A vehicle on the adjacent street also sustained bullet holes. The incident wasn’t just about property damage; it was a reckless display of violence in a residential neighborhood.

When Peoria Police attempted to pull over the suspect vehicle, Bennett floored it, leading officers on a high-speed chase through city streets, even driving into oncoming traffic. The pursuit ended when officers strategically boxed in his car at the intersection of War Memorial Drive and Allen Road. But Bennett wasn’t going down without a fight. He reportedly rammed his vehicle into multiple police cruisers, nearly striking an officer during the attempted arrest.

A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” pistol – a firearm without a serial number – on the floorboard. But this wasn’t just any handgun. Authorities determined the weapon was equipped with an auto-sear, a device commonly known as a “switch,” turning it into a fully automatic machinegun. The illegal modification dramatically increased the weapon’s firepower and lethality.

Bennett pleaded guilty in June 2023 to the single count of possessing a machinegun and has been held by the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest. The maximum penalty for this crime is 10 years in prison, but Judge Shadid settled on the 41-month sentence. In addition to the prison time, Bennett was ordered to forfeit all firearms and ammunition connected to the case.

The investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Peoria Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna led the prosecution. The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across the country. The feds claim they are fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, but the streets tell a different story.

Related Federal Cases