PEORIA, Ill. - Raymone Stephens and Khalil Rhasad Hood, both of Bloomington, Ill., have been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute crack cocaine in the Bloomington area. Stephens, 30, of the 1100 block of Ekstam Dr., and Hood, 23, of the 700 block of Fairmont Dr., were arrested on Nov. 2, 2018, and made their initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley.
Judge Hawley today ordered Stephens to remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A detention hearing is scheduled on Nov. 8, for Hood. A preliminary hearing for both is scheduled on Nov. 16.
The complaint charges the men with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute more than 28 grams of crack cocaine. If convicted, the offense carries a statutory penalty of five years to 40 years in prison; if a defendant has one or more prior felony drug convictions, the penalty is 10 years to life in prison.
The charges are the result of an ongoing investigation by the Bloomington Police Department’s Vice Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Illinois State Police Tactical Response team, the U.S. Marshals Task Force, and the Bloomington Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics team assisted in the arrests and execution of related search warrants.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Ghrist is representing the government in the prosecution in federal court in conjunction with the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an accusation; each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
