Federal prosecutors in Chicago have significantly ramped up their efforts to combat violent offenders and gun crimes, with firearm indictments nearly tripling under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros. Officials, including leaders from the FBI, ATF, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service, revealed that the Northern District has seen a substantial increase in both firearm and overall criminal prosecutions in 2025.
From January to October 2025, federal firearm indictments filed under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative saw a staggering 292 percent increase, rising from 26 cases in 2024 to 102 this year. The number of defendants charged in these cases also surged from 30 to 116, marking a 287 percent increase. Overall, federal criminal indictments across all program areas spiked by 45 percent, from 252 last year to 366 this year. The number of defendants charged rose by 52 percent, from 325 to 494, according to Boutros.
Boutros emphasized the Department of Justice’s commitment to tackling the gun crime epidemic, labeling it a national priority. He pledged continued substantial resources to support law enforcement partners and prosecute the most significant violent offenders.
The expansion of PSN earlier this year into downtown Chicago and the entire Chicago Transit Authority’s rail system represented a novel approach to addressing violence in key economic and commuter zones. This move marked the first implementation of PSN on a mass-transit network nationwide and the first time downtown Chicago’s financial districts received the federal designation.
Firearm investigations have also benefited from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC), a centralized hub where every gun case in the Northern District is processed daily. The CGIC brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and analysts to swiftly identify, trace, and prosecute offenders linked to shootings and illegal firearm activity.
Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the ATF Chicago Field Division, commended the CGIC’s collaboration with Boutros’ office for making a significant impact on reducing violent crime in Chicago. He highlighted that increased federal prosecutions ensure that violent offenders are promptly brought to justice.
Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office, lauded the network of PSN partners for making communities safer and more well-resourced than ever before.
Despite operating with significantly fewer prosecutors than in previous years, Boutros noted that the office has achieved impressive results in 2025. When he assumed leadership, the office faced a shortage of about 50 attorneys, with the criminal division’s headcount dropping below 90 for the first time in decades. To handle expanding criminal and civil caseloads, dozens of new assistant U.S. attorneys will be hired in the coming months, many of whom bring decades of prosecutorial experience.
Notable federal firearm cases highlighted by prosecutors include:
– Fabias L. Shipman, a convicted felon with a prior federal drug conviction, charged with illegally possessing ammunition and involved in a fatal shooting incident.
– Eddie Arguelles, charged with illegally possessing a Glock 23 pistol equipped with various modifications and live-streaming himself with the weapon on social media.
– Velar “V” Mayfield, accused of turning his home into a mini-armory and selling firearms and ammunition to informants and an undercover federal agent.
– Alec Chisolm-Blockton, on parole for his involvement in a murder, allegedly selling guns to federal informants and agents in Chicago.
The increase in federal prosecutions and the dedication of resources to combat violent crime underscore the ongoing efforts to enhance public safety and address the gun violence crisis in Chicago.
