Chicago — Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced charges against a Romeoville man for gunrunning and money laundering following a joint investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Illinois State Police Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad (MANS), and the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department.
Miguel Martinez, 27, was arraigned before Judge William Brennan on a 14-count indictment with gunrunning, a Class X Felony, unlawful sale or delivery of firearms and aggravated possession of a stolen firearm, both Class 1 felonies, possession of a stolen firearm by a street gang member, a Class 2 felony, money laundering, a Class 3 felony, and aggravated unlawful use of a firearm, a Class 4 felony. Martinez has been identified as being affiliated with the Two-Two Boys gang.
ATF initiated the investigation after discovering Martinez was allegedly selling guns in Illinois. ATF used a cooperating witness to purchase guns from Martinez. Through subsequent text messages sent to the witness, Martinez regularly offered a number of guns for sale.
“These charges are the result of a coordinated effort among our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to put a stop to this criminal enterprise that endangers too many lives,” Madigan said.
From October 2015 through April 13, 2016, the witness allegedly purchased 11 guns from Martinez and paid him a total of $10,650. The witness’ initial purchase was in Cook County, and the following 10 purchases were made in DuPage County. All of the purchases were monitored by ATF agents and involved a recording device worn by the witness.
At least four of the 11 firearms sold to the witness by Martinez were reported stolen, including firearms from Cook County, Grundy County, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
“ATF is committed to interdicting the flow of guns to violent gang members by investigating and charging illegal firearms traffickers,” said Chicago ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Magee.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant Attorneys General M. Claire Nicholson and Anshuman Vaidya are handling prosecution of the case for Madigan’s Special Prosecutions Bureau.
Alicja Otap
