A suburban Chicago man has been charged with robbing a federal task force officer during an undercover drug operation, according to an April 9 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The case highlights the risks faced by law enforcement officers working undercover and the commitment of authorities to pursue charges when such attacks occur.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Marcus Lewis, 23, of Ford Heights, Illinois, and a juvenile met with an undercover FBI task force officer on April 3 in Ford Heights for what was supposed to be a cocaine transaction. During the meeting, Lewis and the juvenile indicated they knew the officer “was a cop,” then assaulted him with a firearm and stole $10,000 in government funds intended for the drug purchase. The suspects attempted to flee but crashed their vehicle into another law enforcement car; while the juvenile was arrested at the scene, Lewis fled on foot and was apprehended early the next morning. The juvenile is expected to face charges in state court.
Lewis has been charged federally with one count of robbery. He waived his right to a detention hearing and will remain detained pending trial. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 15 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim.
The announcement came from Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jalan L. Jaskot represents the government in this case.
“FBI task force officers and agents are first responders in the fight against violent crime in our neighborhoods and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The dangerous and brave work they do requires them to put their lives on the line every day. We all owe our law enforcement agents and task force officers a debt of gratitude for their dedication to the mission and their commitment to public safety... we will not tolerate attacks against federal law enforcement officers in the Northern District of Illinois.”
FBI Special Agent-in-Charge DePodesta said: “Violent attacks on our personnel... erode respect for the rule of law and compromise safety... The FBI... will ensure that there is no safe haven or amnesty for anyone seeking to harm personnel working to protect... uphold... Constitution.”
Authorities remind that criminal complaints are not evidence of guilt; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
