ROCKFORD - A Rockford man was sentenced today in federal court to a total of 124 months in federal prison for committing firearms and drug trafficking offenses. JARIMNE FREEMAN, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala to serve 64 months’ imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute heroin and marijuana. In addition, the court sentenced Freeman to serve a consecutive term of 60 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. After serving his sentence in federal prison, Freeman will be placed on 3 years of supervised release. Freeman was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $200.
Freeman pleaded guilty on Oct. 21, 2014. According to the written plea agreement, on Oct. 10, 2013, Freeman agreed to meet with an individual who was cooperating with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department (“WCSD") at a location in Rockford and sell the cooperating individual 10 grams of heroin. The plea agreement noted that Freeman was arrested by WCSD deputies when Freeman arrived at the agreed upon location. The plea agreement further noted that at the time Freeman was arrested by WCSD deputies and Freeman’s vehicle was searched, Freeman possessed approximately 8.9 grams of heroin and approximately 57.2 grams of marijuana in plastic bags in the center console, approximately 267 grams of marijuana in two plastic bags in the back seat, and a loaded FEG 9mm pistol under the driver’s side floor mat of Freeman’s vehicle. Freeman also possessed approximately 9.6 grams of heroin in a plastic bag and $1,691 in his front right pants pocket. Freeman admitted that he intended to sell the heroin and marijuana he possessed on Oct. 10, 2013 to other individuals. Freeman further admitted in the plea agreement that he possessed the FEG 9mm pistol on Oct. 10, 2013 to protect his heroin and marijuana and his drug trafficking proceeds. The plea agreement further noted that in the eight months prior to Oct. 10, 2013, Freeman sold approximately 50 grams of heroin per month to his customers for a total of approximately 400 grams of heroin.
The sentencing was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Carl J. Vasilko, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Gary Caruana, Winnebago County Sheriff.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Pedersen.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
