ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Patrick D. Hansen, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, announced today that three area men are scheduled for trial in April after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging them with a January 2017 home invasion robbery and related gun offenses. Those charged are: Deaunta Tyler, 29 of East Moline; Ledell Tyler, 35 of Silvis, and Dalvent Jackson, 24, of East Moline, Ill.
The indictment alleges that on Jan. 7, 2017, the three men robbed and attempted to take illegal drugs and U.S. currency from other persons in Rock Island County. The men are also charged with possession of firearms, a.22 caliber semi-automatic handgun, a.22 caliber rifle and ammunition, which were allegedly discharged, in furtherance of the robbery, and with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Trial for the three men is scheduled on April 17, 2017. The men were previously arrested on state charges on Jan. 8, 2017, and have remained in law enforcement custody. During a court appearance yesterday, before U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow, Deaunta and Ledell Tyler were ordered to remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service; Jackson remains detained pending a detention hearing scheduled on March 2.
If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty for the robbery offense is 20 years in prison. The statutory penalty for possessing firearms in furtherance of the robbery and discharging those firearms requires a sentence of at least 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life imprisonment, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence awarded in the case. The statutory maximum penalty for possession of firearms and ammunition by a felon is 10 years in prison. Each offense is also punishable by a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Don Allegro and Ryan Finlen. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Rock Island Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
