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Date: 07-26-2023
Case Style:
Case Number: 4:21-cr-40020
Judge: Sara L. Darrow
Court: United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (Rock Island County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Rock Island
Defendant's Attorney: Jack Dusthimer
Description: Rock Island, Illinois criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Marcus Dixon, age 29, was convicted following a jury trial in March 2023 in front of Chief United States District Judge Sara Darrow. During that trial, the government presented evidence establishing that on October 20, 2019, Dixon fled from a car crash at the intersection of Seventeenth Street and First Avenue in Rock Island, Illinois. Officers searched the car and found a photograph of Dixon, three loaded firearms, and several bags of crack cocaine and marijuana. Additionally, Dixon’s DNA was later found on a deployed airbag. At the time of the crash, Dixon was on supervised release in connection with a prior federal offense.
On December 18, 2019, Dixon’s federal probation officer filed a petition for revocation and obtained a search warrant for Dixon’s home in relation to the October 20th incident. Probation officers searched Dixon’s residence in East Moline, Illinois and located a gun storage box for a firearm that had the same serial number as a firearm located in the crashed car. Additional evidence obtained during the search, including Dixon’s cell phone and a set of car keys, was indicative of drug dealing and led probation officers to a second address in Silvis, Illinois, and a white Audi that was apparently used by Dixon. Inside the Audi, probation officers found two vacuum sealed bags of marijuana and two firearms. Dixon’s fingerprints were later found on one of the bags of marijuana.
The statutory penalty for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana under is up to 20 years imprisonment; for possession of a firearm as a felon it is up to ten years’ imprisonment (based on the penalties in place at the time of the offense conduct); for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime it is five years to life imprisonment; and for possession with intent to distribute marijuana it is up to five years’ imprisonment.
The case investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police; the Rock Island Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Weir and Timothy Sullivan represented the government in the prosecution.
21:841A=ND.F - NARCOTICS - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE - On or about October 20, 2019, in Rock Island County, in the Central District of Illinois, the defendant, did knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing cocaine base ("crack"), a Schedule II controlled substance, and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance. All in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) and 841(b)(1)(D).
(1)
18:922G.F - UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS, ETC. - On or about October 20, 2019, in Rock Island County, in the Central District of Illinois, the defendant, knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, knowingly possessed firearms, which had previously traveled in interstate commerce. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
(2)
18:924C.F - VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN - On or about October 20, 2019, in Rock Island County, in the Central District of Illinois, the defendant, did knowingly possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).
(3)
21:841A1=MP.F - POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA - On or about December 18, 2019, in Rock Island County, in the Central District of Illinois, the defendant did knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance. All in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D).
(4)
18:922G.F - UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS, ETC. - On or about December 18, 2019, in Rock Island County, in the Central District of Illinois, the defendant, knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, knowingly possessed firearms, which had previously traveled in interstate commerce. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
(5)
18:924C.F - VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN - On or about December 18, 2019, in Rock Island County, in the Central District of Illinois, the defendant, did knowingly possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).
(6)
Outcome: Defendant Dixon is sentenced to a total of 260 months. 140 months on Count 1, 120 months on Count 2 concurrent, 60 months on Count 3 consecutive to any other count, 60 months on Count 4 concurrent, 120 months on Count 5 concurrent, and 60 months on Count 6 consecutive to any other count, 3 years supervised release to run concurrent on Counts 1 through 6, no fine, and $600 special assessment fee.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: