Criminal Cases

IRS Investigates, Chicagoland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison For Drug, Gun Crimes

IRS Investigates, Chicagoland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison For Drug, Gun Crimes

Following an investigation by the IRS and other agencies, a Chicagoland man has been sentenced to federal prison for gun and drug crimes. 

According to an official release from the tax agency, Jarien Smith will face nearly six years behind bars for illegally possessing two loaded handguns and fentanyl-laced heroin. Smith, a resident of the Chicago suburb of Wheaton, Illinois, was found to be in possession of the illicit items on January 2, 2019 in a home in Westchester, Illinois. He used this residence as a "stash house" to store the supply of narcotics he sold to other drug traffickers in his circle.

GettyImages-1309204167_resized_machine-gun
Credit: Natnan Srisuwan/Getty Images

The IRS notes that one of the guns authorities found was a fully automatic rifle with a 50-round magazine. The other firearm was equipped with laser sight and flashlight attachments to improve accuracy when firing at a target.

When law enforcement officials searched Smith's Wheaton home, they discovered nine "burner" cellphones, body armor, and a Rolex watch worth approximately $85,000.

Prior to the 2019 situation, Smith had been convicted on other charges and was not legally allowed to possess a firearm.

He pleaded guilty to the firearm and drug charges earlier in 2023, with U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman presiding. Judge Gettleman handed down Smith's 70-month prison sentence last Thursday.

This case was overseen by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Other agencies involved in the investigation include the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), the Chicago Police Department, the United States Secret Service, the Illinois State Police, and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. 

Fentanyl-GettyImages-1055975932
Credit: designer491/Getty Images

The investigation into Smith's activities was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 

What do you think about Smith's incarceration?

You Might Also Enjoy:

Feature Image Credit: Darwin Brandis

share this post
Search for matches...
Rebekah Barton

Rebekah Barton

Rebekah's search engine optimization career began completely by accident as a college student. Over the course of her career so far, she has "grown up" with the SEO industry, from writing content while juggling classes to managing her own teams of writers and overseeing SEO strategy in subsequent roles. She is excited to bring her passion for high-quality content to CountingWorks, Inc.

Recommended Professionals

In the face of economic uncertainty, TaxBuzz is the industry's most up-to-date tax information.

Join 60,000 who get our weekly newsletter. No spam.

Need help selecting a firm?

Use our specialized search engine and get matched to the best accounting and tax firm for your needs.

Related Posts

Latest Posts