Bloomington man sentenced for role in crack cocaine ring

By Kevin Beese Staff Reporter

Raymone Stephens

A Bloomington man has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for his role in a McLean County crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy.

Raymone Stephens, 31, was sentenced to 16 years, 8 months in prison.

U.S. District Judge James Shadid handed down the sentence Jan. 9. Stephens has been in the custody of U.S. Marshals since his arrest in November 2018. He will be transferred to the federal Bureau of Prisons to serve his sentence.

On Sept. 4, Stephens pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy and to eight counts of related possession and distribution of crack cocaine in the Bloomington-Normal area. A co-defendant, Khalil Hood, 29, has also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and to one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Hood is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 31

Three additional defendants were convicted on state charges in McLean County. Because of the investigation, officers recovered more than 300 grams of cocaine, having a street value of $240,000; four handguns; a pistol-grip shotgun; and a bulletproof vest.

The convictions were secured by a multi-month investigation in the summer and fall of 2018 by the Bloomington Police Department and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S.  Attorney’s Office worked together throughout the investigation and prosecution to secure both state and federal convictions.