EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Illinois, Southern), published as received.

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – In a U.S. District courtroom on Tuesday, a Belleville man was sentenced to six years in federal prison for a gun charge stemming from a 2021 incident in East St. Louis.

Ladarius Roberts, 30, pled guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the federal prison sentence, he received three years of supervised release. Roberts will also pay a $200 fine and $100 in special assessments.

“Physically abusing and recklessly firing a weapon at women is absolutely unacceptable behavior, and I’m relieved the defendant will be sent back to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I appreciate the collaborative effort by the East St. Louis Police Department and the Illinois State Police Public Safety Enforcement Group to apprehend this dangerous and violent offender.”

“When we receive a call about a crime, the Public Safety Enforcement Group is ready to take action,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “This case is an example of what law enforcement, the justice system, and community members can do by working together.”

According to court documents, Roberts and Kievonte J. Beasley met two women in East St. Louis in January 2021. When the women tried to leave, Roberts became angry, physically assaulted one of the women and threw an item shattering the woman’s car’s back windshield. He drove off in a vehicle with Beasley, and the women followed in another vehicle while on the phone with law enforcement.

Numerous gun shots were heard on the 911 call, and a woman reported Roberts was firing the gun from his car. Police located the suspected car with Roberts in the driver seat. Beasley fled from the passenger seat and discarded the firearm, but police recovered it nearby and identified it as a Glock 22, .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine containing 11 live rounds of ammunition with one round in the chamber.

Roberts was on probation for drug charges at the time he committed crime. Beasley is facing a gun charge in state court for the incident. The charge against Beasley is only an accusation, and he’s presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The East St. Louis Police Department and the ISP PSEG unit worked together to contribute to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns led the prosecution.