Ford Heights Man, 23, Assaulted Undercover Cop In Drug Deal, Robbed Him Of $10,000: U.S. Attorney

CHICAGO — A Ford Heights man faces federal charges after allegedly robbing a federal task force office during an undercover drug deal last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday.

The task force officer was working undercover for the FBI on April 3, when the officer met with Marcus Lewis and a juvenile in a residential neighborhood of Ford Heights to buy cocaine from them, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

During the meeting, Lewis and the juvenile said words to the effect that they knew the undercover officer “was a cop,” the complaint states. They then beat the officer with a firearm and robbed the officer of $10,000 in government funds that the officer planned to use to purchase the cocaine, the complaint alleges.

Lewis and the juvenile attempted to flee in their vehicle, but it crashed into a responding law enforcement vehicle, according to federal officials. The juvenile was quickly arrested, while Lewis fled on foot and was apprehended early the next morning. The juvenile is expected to face charges in state court.

The federal complaint charges Lewis, 23, of Ford Heights, with one count of robbery.

Lewis waived his right to a detention hearing and was ordered to remain detained in federal custody pending trial.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 15.

“FBI task force officers and agents are first responders in the fight against violent crime in our neighborhoods and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. “The dangerous and brave work they do requires them to put their lives on the line every day. We all owe our law enforcement agents and task force officers a debt of gratitude for their dedication to the mission and their commitment to public safety. As I have said numerous times during my first year as United States Attorney, we will not tolerate attacks against federal law enforcement officers in the Northern District of Illinois. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek to hold this violent offender accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The men and women of the FBI swore an oath to serve and protect the very communities in which they live and serve,” said FBI SAC Douglas DePodesta.

“Violent attacks on our personnel, which include the elite cadre of embedded task force officer partners, erode respect for the rule of law and compromise the safety of everyone across our country. The FBI, with the full backing of our federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, will ensure that there is no safe haven or amnesty for anyone seeking to harm the very personnel working to protect the American people and uphold the U.S. Constitution.”