Illinois Man Sentenced to Over 7 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking

MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Lildre S. Brown, 36, Markham, Illinois, was sentenced November 7, 2024, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 85 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 6 years of supervised release. Brown pled guilty to this charge on July 18, 2024.

Between December 2023 and February 2024, Brown distributed fentanyl laced heroin on three separate occasions in the Madison area. On one of these occasions, Brown sent co-defendant Nicole Sanders to deliver almost 100 grams of fentanyl. On the two other occasions, co-defendant Simmeka Tibbs delivered the fentanyl for Brown. As part of the investigation, agents executed a search warrant at Sanders' residence and found another 72 grams of fentanyl in the trunk of her car.

At the time of these offenses, Brown was on supervised release from a previous federal drug conviction. Judge Peterson revoked that supervision and imposed a two-year prison term. Both sentences will be served at the same time.

At Brown's sentencing, Judge Peterson highlighted that Brown continued to sell drugs while on federal supervision. Judge Peterson was also concerned by the amount of fentanyl involved and by the fact that Brown involved others in his criminal activities.

All three defendants who were charged in this trafficking scheme have pled guilty. Tibbs will be sentenced on November 19, 2024, and Sanders on November 22, 2024.

The charges against Brown, Tibbs, and Sanders were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rock County Sheriff's Office, Madison Police Department, and the Markham Illinois Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted this case.