August 1, 2014- KANKAKEE, IL- Sun River Terrace (rural St. Anne) resident J.B. Brown Jr (a.k.a. “Cocoa”), 37 years of age, was convicted of federal drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a felon in Urbana yesterday.

A jury deliberated for approximately four hours Thursday afternoon before returning with the guilty verdict. Brown was arrested in June of 2013 at his residence in the 7400 block of East First Street, St. Anne, IL. Brown was found in possession of more than 100 grams of heroin (which were intended for distribution) and a loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol (after having previously been convicted of at least one felony).

Brown, who had been released on bond, was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service at the conclusion of yesterday’s case. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for December 1st, 2014.
The statutory penalty for possession of 100 grams or more of heroin with intent to distribute is a minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison (which also includes a fine of up to $8 million). The maximum statutory penalty for unlawful possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted as a felon is 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

“This particular case will undoubtedly have an impact on the street sales of heroin in Kankakee County. I am hoping that others take note of this case and that others realize that drug sales will simply not be tolerated in Kankakee County,” said Sheriff Tim Bukowski. “I applaud the hard work that investigators put towards ending the reign of this dangerous individual.”
Brown’s case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller. The charges were brought forth as a result of an investigation by the Kankakee County Major Crimes Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Kankakee Area Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force.

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