Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s attorney Bob Berlin is expressing gratitude to all those who played a role in taking a convicted felon found to be unlawfully in possession of a firearm off the street.

Eugene Williams is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 1, after being denied bond earlier this month by Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh on felony charges that include one count of armed habitual criminal, one count of armed violence, one count of possession of MDMA with intent to deliver, one count of possession of heroin with intent to deliver, one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and one count of unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.   

“It is alleged that instead of conducting himself within the legal limitations placed upon him due to his past criminal behavior, Mr. Williams thumbed his nose once again at the law and decided to not only illegally arm himself with an untraceable gun, but also possess illegal narcotics,” Berlin said in a post to Facebook. “This is the second time this week and the seventh time within one month that a DuPage County judge has denied bail for a defendant accused of serious crimes. To be blunt, the message coming from DuPage County is crystal clear, felons who illegally possess a gun will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I thank the Naperville Police Department for their vigilant work on this case that allegedly took a dangerous weapon out of the hands of a convicted felon and illegal narcotics off our streets. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Claudia Fantauzzo and Kelly McKay for their efforts in preparing a strong case against Mr. Williams.”

Williams was taken into custody on Aug. 11, after being pulled over by a Naperville police officer for failing to use a signal when changing lanes. During the interaction, the officer allegedly smelled a strong scent of cannabis coming from the vehicle and proceeded to search it, during which time he allegedly found a loaded ghost gun, 34 ecstasy pills, approximately one gram of heroin and approximately 140 grams of cannabis.

“While all alleged offenders are innocent until proven guilty, this is the second time this year our department has arrested this particular individual for unlawful possession of a firearm and other serious charges,” Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres added. “Our department is committed to keeping this town safe, and our officers will not stop proactively patrolling this city, making traffic stops and taking dangerous people and weapons off our streets. I want to thank our officers for their selfless service to our community and DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin’s office for doing its part to keep such individuals out of our communities after arrest.”