Chicago Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Marijuana Conspiracy
ROCKFORD, Ill. – In a federal court in Rockford, Illinois, Yousif Y. Pira, 65, of Chicago, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana.
According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Pira conspired with Jeremiah N. Clement, 39, of Des Plaines, George H. Bacus, 54, of Niles, Justin T. Paglusch, 36, of Ingleside, Shlimon Shimon, 49, of Chicago, Casey Williams, 30, of Great Falls, Mont., and Destiny Freeman, 24, of Palmer, Alaska, to illegally grow, store, and distribute marijuana in a warehouse at 1916 11th Street in Rockford.
The warehouse was destroyed by a fire on January 6, 2015. Pira purchased grow lights and other equipment and supplies for the illegal operation to grow marijuana in the warehouse and installed wiring for the lights used to grow marijuana.
Clement, Paglusch, Bacus, Williams, and Freeman previously pleaded guilty and admitted their roles in the conspiracy. Clement was sentenced on June 3, 2016, to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release; Paglusch was sentenced on June 23, 2016, to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release; Bacus was sentenced on September 22, 2017, to 33 months in prison, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release; Williams was sentenced on August 23, 2017, to 57 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release; and Freeman was sentenced on August 24, 2017, to 23 months in prison, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release.
An arrest warrant was previously issued for Shimon, who is still at large.
Today’s sentencing of Pira was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Celinez Nunez, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Derek Bergsten, Chief of the Rockford Fire Department; and Anthony Scarpelli, Chief of the Skokie Police Department.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit and Rockford Police Department Narcotics Unit assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph C. Pedersen and Margaret J. Schneider.
Pira was found guilty on July 13, 2017, following a four-day jury trial in federal court in Rockford. His sentence includes 10 years in federal prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
The case against Pira and his co-conspirators was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit and Rockford Police Department Narcotics Unit.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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