Department of Justice

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man, BRIAN KOTLIENTHONG, 32, appeared in federal court today following a grand jury indictment charging him with three counts of distributing cocaine and three counts of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

 

Kotlienthong appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston, who scheduled a detention hearing for April 22, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., in federal court in Rockford.

 

As alleged in the indictment, Kotlienthong distributed cocaine three times in Rockford in December 2017.  The indictment further alleged that Kotlienthong, who had a previous felony conviction, illegally possessed two 9mm pistols and a 9mm rifle.

 

The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Timothy Jones, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Stateline Area Narcotics Team, which includes law enforcement officers and agents from the Illinois State Police and the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Talia Bucci.

 

Each count of distributing cocaine carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a period of supervised release of three years to life, and a fine of up to $1 million.  Each count of illegally possessing a firearm carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.  

 

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.