2025 Year in Review: ATF Chicago Field Division

CHICAGO - In 2025, the ATF Chicago Field Division and our federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners were focused on reducing violent crime and removing violent offenders from our communities. Below is a snapshot of our year:

Enhanced Enforcement Initiative with Chicago Police Department and Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago partners (June-August):

• 41 offenders arrested
• 171 firearms recovered
• 64 machinegun conversion devices seized

Notable Federal and State Cases:

• Lawrence Reed was indicted on terrorism and arson charges for deliberately lighting a passenger on fire aboard a CTA train as well as setting fire to Chicago City Hall.
• 30 Venezuelan nationals with ties to the violent transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) were charged in Federal and State Court with trafficking 75 firearms that were linked via the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to violent crimes.
• Charles Green , a convicted felon, was charged with murder and aggravated arson in connection with the line of duty death of Chicago Fire Department Captain David Meyer.
• Fabias Shipman was indicted in connection with a deadly shooting in a South Shore alley.
• Eddie Arguelles was indicted for possession of a machinegun after carrying out a shooting in a crowded park using a firearm affixed with a machinegun conversion device.
• A federal jury convicted Labar Spann, a leader of the Four Corner Hustlers, on all four counts, including a racketeering conspiracy, two murders in aid of racketeering, and extortion. Spann faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison when sentenced in April 2026.
• Operation Last Call resulted in federal charges against four violent offenders responsible for robbing liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago. This investigation solved 73 commercial armed robberies.
• Melvin Doyle, a multi-convicted felon previously convicted of attempted murder, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for unlawfully engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
• Titus Alexander and Mitchell Smith were each indicted in connection with the robberies of three central Illinois massage parlors. This case was investigated in partnership with the Peoria Police Department.
• Five offenders were charged with felony gunrunning by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in connection with an interstate trafficking ring moving firearms and machinegun conversion devices from Indiana to Chicago. This investigation resulted in the recovery of more than 20 firearms and three machinegun conversion devices.
• Juan Rodriguez, who was on parole for posing as a police officer during a home invasion, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• Floyd Jordan , who was previously convicted of attempted murder, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• Alec Chisholm-Blockton , a multi-convicted felon on parole for offenses related to the murder of a juvenile, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• James Hanback was indicted for making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer in order to obtain a firearm and for unlawfully engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.

Gary Police Department, ATF, Lake County Prosecutor's Office and U.S. Attorney's Office (Northern District of Indiana) Announce Significant Drop in Violent Crime

• City of Gary, Indiana saw a 36.8% reduction in homicides
• Non-fatal shootings decreased by 22.8%
• Federal firearms prosecutions increased by 25%
• 41.4% increase in firearms recovered from violent offenders. NIBIN data connects a significant number of recovered firearms to violent crimes that took place in the Gary area.

Notable Sentencings:

• Dax Baldridge was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison after shooting at law enforcement agents serving an arrest warrant at his residence.
• Graham Green was sentenced to 22 years in state prison for gunrunning in Kane County.
• Evette "Betty" Oseugbu was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her role in an arson for insurance scheme.
• Armon Shannon was sentenced to 82 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• Jeremy Barr was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for making pipe bombs.

Crime Gun Intelligence Centers of Chicago and Northwest Indiana

• ATF and the Fort Wayne Police Department announced the opening of the Northwest Indiana CGIC. This is a collaborative effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners focused on investigating violent crimes involving firearms.
• Chicago Field Division NIBIN sites generated more than 9,700 actionable leads for investigative follow up in calendar year 2025.

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