A federal grand jury has indicted Rishone Raspberry for allegedly trafficking fentanyl in Chicago while he was on state pre-trial release for a felony drug charge in Cook County, according to a July 16 announcement. The indictment alleges that Raspberry sold approximately 52 grams of fentanyl to an undercover federal law enforcement agent on May 27, 2026, during a transaction that took place in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago.
At the time of the alleged drug deal, Raspberry was out on pre-trial bond related to another felony drug charge stemming from an incident three weeks earlier. He was also serving a three-year probation term for a separate felony drug conviction from 2025 in Cook County.
Raspberry, age 32 and a resident of Chicago, was taken into federal custody on July 7, 2026. He is charged with drug distribution under the new federal indictment. On Monday, Raspberry pleaded not guilty during his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain in federal court. Judge McShain granted the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s motion to detain Raspberry pending trial. A status hearing is scheduled for August 13 at 9:15 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins.
The indictment and detention order were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Chmura is representing the government.
The public is reminded that an indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt; defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, where the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.