The Peoria Area Federal Firearms (PAFF) Task Force is a collaborative effort between Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement to combat and prevent violent firearm crimes and has been operational since Fall of 2022. The PAFF Task Force has arrested and charged numerous individuals on federal gun cases. The PAFF combines a Federal Prosecutor, Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Illinois State Police (ISP), The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, sworn Task Force Officers from the Peoria Police Department and the Parole Division of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
“The Illinois State Police is a committed member of the Peoria Area Task Force and is focused on getting illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “The collaborative effort between ISP, local and federal law enforcement agencies, and the justice system is helping make our communities safer.”
Those cases include indictments for possession of a firearm as a felon and additional indictments for unlawful possession of a machine gun. Multiple PAFF indictments arose from cases involving the discharge of fully-automatic machine guns within residential areas of Peoria. An investigation conducted by the PAFF led to federal charges for possession of machine gun conversion devices printed locally on a 3D printer. Members of the public are reminded that defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
“Reducing gun violence in our communities requires cooperation, commitment, and determination,” said United States Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners is one of the most effective ways to combat violent gun crime.”
Several other PAFF-referred cases are pending sentencing, including United States v. Johnson, No. 23-CR-10007, in which the defendant pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun, and United States v. Allison, No. 23-CR-10002, and United States v. Bailey, No. 22-10030, in which the defendants each pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon.
The PAFF uses various investigative techniques to target individuals who are actively involved in, or associated with, firearm-related violence in Peoria and surrounding counties. Individuals identified as being involved in firearm-related violence, including “straw purchasers” who buy guns on behalf of someone else, are referred to the United States Attorney’s Office for potential prosecution. The PAFF also directs its resources to investigate felons who unlawfully possess firearms, drug traffickers who possess and use firearms, and individuals that possess aftermarket devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into machine guns, commonly referred to as “switches”. The PAFF pools each of its respective agency resources and pursue strategies to disrupt perpetrators of gun violence.
The PAFF Task Force will utilize the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) station located at the Peoria Police Department to assist in firearms investigations. NIBIN, which is managed nationally by ATF, is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in operation in the United States. The NIBIN Program automates ballistics evaluations by comparing shell casing evidence collected from shooting scenes, enabling law enforcement to link shooting incidents within their jurisdiction, in neighboring jurisdictions, and to others across the country.
“Partnerships among law enforcement are vital to holding accountable the trigger pullers responsible for the violence in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon, of the ATF’s Chicago Field Division. “The men and women of ATF are committed to working closely with our local, state, and federal partners, which is a force multiplier in investigating gun crime.”
“Last year the Peoria Police Department was able to reduce gun violence by 28%, but that is not enough,” said Peoria Police Chief, Eric Echevarria. “The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force is another example of how our Department is using every resource and partnership available to reduce gun violence. With the creation of this task force, we now have a team operating out of the Peoria Police Department streamlining the process of identifying, investigating, charging, and prosecuting violent offenders federally. I remind everyone that we will not tolerate any violent crimes in our community. For those wanting to continue to victimize our community, we will continue to focus on you and bringing an end to the violence.”
“Families in Peoria and the surrounding communities are at risk each day as violent criminals commit violations of firearms laws,” said Special Agent in Charge David G. Nanz, of the FBI’s Springfield Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working side-by-side with our law enforcement partners toward our shared goal of battling violent crime and making our communities safer.”
