Rockford Drug Dealer Who Managed 'Heroin Hotlines' Gets 17 Years

ROCKFORD, IL — A judge sentenced a Rockford man who admitted dealing heroin to 17 years in federal prison Monday, according to the Department of Justice. Prosecutors said he and a partner ran a drug trafficking business and used two cell phones as "heroin hotlines" for customers until their arrest in September 2016.

Quincy L. Atmore, 46, pleaded guilty to distributing heroin on Jan. 17, 2018. In a written plea agreement, he said he normally sold small amounts of heroin to users, but he would occasionally conduct larger transaction.

Atmore, who went by "Q", also admitted illegally carrying a gun while carrying out drug deals. His 17-year sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, prosecutors said.

The investigation began when an informant for Illinois State Police informed members of a narcotics task force that several people were selling heroin in Rockford using a pair of phone numbers, according to an affidavit from an officer of the Drug Enforcement Agency. The DEA placed a wiretap on the phone and recorded evidence of the men distributing heroin to customers at an estimated rate of at least 10 to 15 grams a day, it said.

Atmore admitted to sales of at least 4.5 kilograms of heroin in the time period between October 2015 and September 2016 covered by the indictment.

Maurice D. Neal, 35, of Rockford, was named as Atmore's partner in an eight-count indictment. He has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on six federal drug traffic charges, including conspiracy to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin, according to court records. If convicted, he could face 20 years imprisonment for each count, with a 10-year mandatory minimum if convicted of drug conspiracy and a fine of up to $10 million.

In one case cited in the affidavit to search Neal's cell phone, a caller complains about the recent quality of heroin and Neal, also known as "Moe", explains he fixed the problem by taking away the phone from one of his dealers. In another, he allegedly offers free samples of high quality heroin.

Neal is due back in court before Judge Iain D. Johnston in Rockford on May 15.