Springfield Man Sentenced to 25 Years on Drug, Gun Charges

A Springfield man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearm offenses.

Kevin Gibbs, 41, was sentenced Aug. 20 to 240 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Those sentences will run concurrently. Gibbs also received a consecutive 60-month sentence for possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gibbs, a convicted felon, possessed a firearm while participating in a drug sale in May 2023. He was apprehended during the transaction and taken into custody.

Springfield Police suspected Gibbs had used the firearm in a shooting at a local IHOP restaurant. Casings from the firearm were submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Integrated Ballistic Information Network and were linked to the shooting by the Illinois State Police Forensic Science Laboratory.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough found Gibbs was an armed career criminal and a career offender based on prior convictions. Myerscough also found the May 2023 shooting was relevant conduct, making Gibbs eligible for a sentencing enhancement. The judge noted Gibbs committed the crimes while on supervised release from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

“Armed felons and drug dealers pose a great risk to the community, and my office will continue to work with local officials to ensure violent offenders are held accountable,” U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore said. “This case is an excellent example of how the federal government can support law enforcement, like the Springfield Police Department, by providing resources that help solve crimes.”

Springfield Police Chief Joseph Behl said the sentence sends a message about the consequences of possessing firearms while committing crimes.

“Individuals with a history of violent and serious offenses who continue to possess firearms pose a significant threat to our community,” Behl said. “This sentence sends a clear message that those who choose to use firearms while engaging in criminal activity will be held accountable. I commend the detectives and officers who worked diligently on this investigation, as well as our partners at ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. These partnerships are critical to our continued efforts to combat gun violence and remove dangerous repeat offenders from our streets.”

A federal grand jury indicted Gibbs in September 2023. He was transferred from state custody to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service in January 2024 and has remained in federal custody since his initial appearance. Gibbs pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long in April 2026.

The Springfield Police Department investigated the case with assistance from ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.

The case was part of an ongoing effort involving Springfield Police, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat gun violence in Sangamon County.