A federal grand jury in the Central District of Illinois returned an indictment on April 8 charging Julius Burkes, 47, of Indiana, with robbery, murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition after the killing of a bar owner in Momence on Feb. 2.
The case is significant as it involves multiple law enforcement agencies working together to address violent crime. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois collaborates with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to advance public safety, according to the official website.
According to court documents, Burkes allegedly robbed The Line bar in Momence using a firearm before killing its owner. He was arrested by Hammond Police Department officers in Indiana on Feb. 3 while working with the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office. Since his arrest he has remained in custody. The Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office initially charged Burkes and has coordinated closely with federal authorities throughout the investigation.
If convicted, Burkes faces up to 20 years for obstruction of commerce by robbery, up to $250,000 fine and three years supervised release; up to 15 years for felon-in-possession charges; and life imprisonment without parole or death penalty for murder.
Agencies involved include several local police departments from both Illinois and Indiana as well as federal entities such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation Springfield Field Office and U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Freres is leading prosecution efforts.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt: "The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." The U.S. Attorney's Office serves 46 counties across central Illinois within the Department of Justice framework according to its official website.
