Staff Report

ROCKFORD – Federal drug-trafficking charges are pending against three Rockford-area residents.

Anton S. Lambert, 42, of Rockton, and Jesse M. Leavy, 35, of Rockford, were arrested on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack, and multiple counts of distribution of cocaine or crack.

An indictment returned last month in federal court charged both men with a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine from June through October 2019.

In a separate but related case, Sammy R. Gordon Jr., 31, of Rockford, was charged by federal criminal complaint with distributing fentanyl and heroin in Rockford.

Law enforcement also executed court-authorized search warrants at multiple locations in Rockford last month.  During the searches, authorities recovered ten handguns, approximately $30,000, more than 100 grams of crack, approximately 90 grams of heroin, and more than 4.5 kilograms of marijuana.

Lambert, Leavy, and Gordon appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa A. Jensen in federal court in Rockford Jan. 29. They pleaded not guilty.

Each count against Lambert and Leavy carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The count against Gordon, Jr. carries a five-year mandatory minimum and a maximum of 40 years in prison.