U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris | U.S. Department of Justice
A Peoria man, Terrance J. Shaw, 43, has been sentenced to 102 months in federal prison for trafficking heroin and cocaine involving firearms and violating the terms of his federal supervised release. The sentence includes a six-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.
During the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, it was revealed that in early March 2024, Peoria Police responded to two ShotSpotter alerts on Lasalle Street. Officers found shell casings and focused their investigation on a residence linked to Shaw, who was already on federal supervised release for previous offenses involving crack cocaine trafficking and firearm possession by a felon.
On March 7, 2024, federal agents from the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force and Peoria Police executed a search warrant at Shaw’s home. They discovered 82 grams of heroin, 10 grams of cocaine, 312 grams of cannabis, drug packaging materials, digital scales with cocaine residue, multiple cellphones, a 9mm pistol with ammunition, an AR-15 rifle with .223 caliber ammunition, and over $14,000 in cash.
Shaw faced charges after a criminal complaint was filed against him in March 2024. A federal grand jury indicted him on March 19 for drug trafficking and firearms offenses. In August 2024 he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine as well as possession of a firearm related to drug trafficking crimes. He also admitted to violating his supervised release terms by committing these new offenses.
The statutory penalties for Shaw's offenses could have led up to 30 years imprisonment followed by six years of supervised release for drug-related charges alone. For firearm possession related to drug trafficking crimes the penalties range from five years to life imprisonment plus additional supervised release time.
The investigation was conducted by the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force which includes agents from several law enforcement agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; Peoria Police Department; Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities they serve.