Cracking down on illegal gun sales that threaten to intensify the cycle of violence in Illinois, Attorney General Kwame Raoul has slapped an Elgin man with multiple gun-running charges. Graham Green, 24, faces a litany of felonies that could land him in prison for decades if convicted. Among these are two counts of Class X felony gunrunning, each carrying a sentence of up to 40 years behind bars.
"I will not tolerate illegal gun sales that fuel violence and often deadly criminal activities in communities throughout Illinois," Raoul declared, underscoring the gravity of the accusations lodged against Green. Raoul’s allegations include Green’s involvement in the illicit trade of 18 firearms and three machine gun conversion devices, over a three-month spree in Kane County, according to a statement on the Attorney General's official website.
ATF Chicago Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Amon lauded the unified front presented by the ATF and local police, contributing to Green's apprehension and ensuring that such collaborative efforts are recognized as being critically effective in stemming the flow of illegal weapons. "These strong partnerships among our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners are an excellent illustration of how working alongside the Elgin Police Department in cooperation with the violent crime task force, is a force multiplier when it comes to investigating and prosecuting firearms trafficking," Amon commented.
Local authorities like Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley have welcomed the ATF's support, with Lalley affirming that the partnership yielded "substantial charges" against the accused. The Elgin Police Department is relentless in its pursuit of reduced gun violence within the city, striving to establish a safer community for its residents. "The cooperative efforts between our department and the ATF resulted in substantial charges against Mr. Green," said Lalley, "I want to thank all the officers from the Elgin Police Department as well as the ATF for their partnership."
Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser struck a chord with the sentiment, expressing satisfaction over the inter-agency collaboration that played a pivotal role in charging Green, who is alleged to be distributing firearms utilized in violent crimes across the Chicagoland area. "We are happy to assist and join forces with the ATF and Elgin Police Department in the prosecution of a dangerous convicted felon who is selling and distributing pistols and rifles that are being used to fuel violence in the Chicagoland area," Mosser said.
With the case now in the hands of Deputy Bureau Chief Andrew Whitfield of Raoul’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau, which specializes in prosecuting multi-county criminal cases of an organized nature, it’s clear that the stranglehold on illegal firearms in Illinois just got a little tighter.
