A 32-year-old Evanston man was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for distributing large amounts of marijuana and concealing the proceeds from drug sales in luxury car purchases and property rentals.
Jonathan Tankson pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois. He was sentenced to 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly in federal court in Chicago Thursday.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tankson coordinated large-scale shipments of marijuana from growers in California between 2010 and 2013. At least twice monthly during the three-year period, Tankson carried between $400,000 to $500,000 in cash on flights to California, purchased between 100 and 200 pounds of marijuana at a time and shipped it on vans and trucks to “stash houses” in Chicago, including one in Lincoln Park and a penthouse in River West, according to the release. Tankson is responsible for distributing over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, the release states.
After Tankson was arrested in December 2013, authorities found over $1 million in cash, 75 kilograms of marijuana stuffed in several plastic bags, five suitcases containing the drug, two 9mm pistol magazines and 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition in the Lincoln Park house, the release states.
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Tankson concealed the profits of his drug trafficking operation in straw buyer purchases of multiple luxury vehicles. In his plea agreement, Tankson admitted to orchestrating the purchase of a $140,000 Porsche Cayenne SUV, a $108,000 Mercedes-Benz sedan, an $80,000 Audi sedan and several other pricey cars as a means to hide the source of his money.
Two Chicago residents were convicted in connection with the money laundering investigation. They are scheduled to be sentenced by Kennelly in September.
An attorney for Tankson, Beau Brindley, said he was pleased with the sentence his client received. He said prosecutors in the case requested a far lengthier prison term, between 15 and 30 years.
“The judge very thoughtfully acknowledged that, at this point in time in this country, the sale of marijuana simply isn’t as serious as the sale of other drugs,” Brindley said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Rama, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, wrote in a sentencing memorandum that Tankson’s crimes “cannot be overstated.”
“For several years, (Tankson) plagued the community by directly purchasing wholesale quantities of marijuana from growers in California, in order to sell the drug on the streets for profit,” Raman wrote.
A public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to provide any additional comment on the case.
Lee Gaines is a freelancer.