United States of America v. Kristain Harris

Peoria, Illinois, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with three counts of distribution of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine (“ice”) and one count of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (“ice”).

At the sentencing hearing on March 10, 2026, the government presented information that beginning in June 2024, a confidential informant with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) purchased methamphetamine from Kristain Harris, age 30, in Peoria, Illinois. Unbeknownst to Harris, each of the purchases was recorded. In total, ATF purchased a total of 597.7 grams of ice methamphetamine from Harris. During one of the purchases, Harris also sold a 9 mm pistol to the confidential informant. Harris was indicted in September 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025.

The statutory penalties for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by a minimum five-year term of supervised release. Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine requires a mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment of five to 40 years’ imprisonment, followed by a minimum four-year term of supervised release.

The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss represented the government in the prosecution.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.