Four people from Peoria are in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following their first appearance in Federal Court for Conspiring to Steal Firearms from Licensed Dealers. Terrence Daniels, 23, Dezmond Hardy, 22, Erika Garner, 21, and Shaleik Ward, 19, were arrested on August 18, 2023, and charged with conspiring to steal firearms from six locations in Central Illinois between August 14th and August 18th. Their first appearance was on August 21st before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley in Peoria.
On August 14th, police officers were dispatched to an attempted burglary at Mean Metal, a gun dealer in Spring Valley, and discovered that a glass window of the business had been shattered. On August 15th, officers responded to an attempted burglary at Powder Keg Outfitters, a gun dealer in Taylorville, and discovered that a glass window on the business had been shattered.
Additional burglary attempts were reported at Guns and Glory in Le Roy, Tactical Bunker in Lincoln, Archers Alley in Decatur, and Smiley’s Sport Shop in Bloomington.
Each defendant faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a possible fine of up to $250,000.
The arrests followed a joint investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, including agency members of the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force as well as the Spring Valley Police Department, the Taylorville Police Department, and the Peoria Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna.
Members of the public are reminded that the charges in a complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
