Man goes to prison as authorities track gun he carried from McLean County theft to Peoria shooting

Posted on October 2, 2021

As a federal prisoner, Foster must serve at least 85% of his sentence before he qualifies for good time credit. (Photo courtesy: Flickr/File)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – During a federal sentencing hearing in Peoria, authorities tracked a handgun from the time it was stolen in McLean County, a shooting in Peoria, to the coat pocket of a man sentenced to prison Friday for carrying that gun.

In February of this year, Peoria Police officers in a fully-marked squad car said they saw a stolen Jeep Cherokee driving recklessly in front of a gas station on MacArthur Highway. Police said they tried to stop the jeep before the driver, Deangelo Foster, lost control and got stuck on the median.

According to prosecutors, the loaded handgun was found in Foster’s coat pocket. Prosecutors said it was stolen from a LeRoy gun store, and the Jeep was stolen in Chicago,

Foster, 24, of Decatur, was sentenced Friday to seven-years in prison for illegally possessing the handgun because he’s a convicted felon.

U.S. District Judge James Shadid noted the gun was used during a Peoria shooting in 2020.

As a federal prisoner, Foster must serve at least 85% of his sentence before he qualifies for good time credit.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].

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