(EAST ST. LOUIS, IL) — Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Darnell Roy Baker, a.k.a. “Forty,” 26, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison, followed by 4 years’ supervised release, a $500 fine and a $500 special assessment. Specifically, Baker was sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin from September 2012 through October 2014 in Marion County (Count 1), and four counts of Distribution of Heroin during June and July 2014, also in Marion County (Counts 2, 3, 4, and 6). The offenses are in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act. According to court documents, Baker agreed with his co-defendants, Dominique Burwell, and Marquise Ross, to distribute heroin for profit in Centralia, Marion County, Illinois. Baker and the others shared a cell phone which customers would contact to order heroin. Burwell often answered the shared cell phone, took the order, and then sent Baker or Ross to complete the transaction with the customer at whatever location was agreed upon. In July, Burwell was convicted in the case. In August, Ross pleaded guilty in the case and is awaiting sentencing. Information leading to the charges against Baker was obtained in an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.

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