16 ½ years for man in cocaine trafficking conspiracy

A Bloomington man has been sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison for his role in McLean County Crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy in 2018. U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid has sentenced the 31-year-old Raymone Stephens in prison.

Stephens has been in custody of U.S. Marshals since his arrest in November 2018. He will be transferred to the federal Bureau of Prisons to serve his sentence. Stephens pleaded guilty on Sept. 4, 2019, of participating in the conspiracy and to eight counts of related possession and distribution of crack cocaine in the Bloomington-Normal area.

Another person Khalil Hood, 29, pleaded guilty as well. He pleaded of conspiracy and to one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Hood will be sentenced on Jan.31, 2020. Three additional defendants were convicted on state charges in McLean County.

The investigation leads to the recovery of more than 300 grams of cocaine, four handguns, a pistol-grip shotgun, and a bulletproof vest. The Bloomington Police Department and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration helped to secure the convictions as they carried out a multi-month investigation in the summer and fall of 2018.

The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Ghrist. The joint venture of McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office helped complete the investigation and secure both state and federal convictions for the prosecution.