Galesburg Man Gets 9 Years On Felony Firearms Charges

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County State's Attorney's office announced Monday a convicted felon from Galesburg has been sentenced by a Lake County Judge to 9 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, nearly two months after pleading guilty to felony firearms charges, including unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and unlawful delivery of a firearm. According to a news release from the state's attorney's office, 28-year-old Damond Martin, of the 1000 block of West Losey Road, was arrested on Aug. 2 on a warrant obtained by detectives with the Lake County Sheriff's Special Investigations Group. Martin pleaded guilty on Oct. 31 to the felony charges stemming from a five-month investigation into a documented street gang member, by the Lake County Sheriff's Special Investigations Group, the state's attorney's office added.

During November 2018, Martin sold an undercover SIG Detective a semi-automatic firearm with an obliterated serial number, and five months later sold an undercover SIG Detective a MAC-11 semi-automatic firearm, the state's attorney's office reported. Both sales took place in Waukegan, the state's attorney's office added.

On Aug. 28, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office presented several charges to a Lake County Grand Jury regarding this case, who issued the following felony indictments against Martin:

• Four counts of armed habitual criminal
• Six counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon
• Two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon
• One count of unlawful delivery of a firearm
• Two counts of unlawful delivery of a firearm

"Keeping firearms out of the hands of felons and those who can’t legally possess them is a major priority for our Special Investigations Group," Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said, according to the news release. "I am grateful for the collaboration of our detectives, the ATF Chicago Field Division, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, and all of our partner SIG agencies. These men and women put themselves in very dangerous situations every day to keep our community safe.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division are members of SIG and had "a significant role in this investigation," the state's attorney's office said.

Upon his release from prison in the IDOC, Martin will serve an additional 3 years on mandatory supervised release, the state's attorney's office said.