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McHenry County News DISPLAY ADVERTISING & CLASSIFIEDS: 815-654-4850 • CIRCULATION: 815-654-4854 • E-MAIL: McHenryNews@RVPublishing.com
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 44
11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115
Woman indicted in scheme to ‘straw purchase’ guns in Indiana on behalf of convicted felon in Chicago A Chicago woman has been indicted on federal firearm charges for conspiring to “straw purchase” handguns in Indiana on behalf of a convicted felon in Chicago. Monica Navejar, 31, purchased the guns from licensed dealers in Indiana and falsely certified on federal forms that she was the actual buyer, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. In reality, Navejar purchased the guns on behalf of a convicted felon in Chicago whom Navejar knew was prohibited from legally purchasing firearms on his own, the indictment states. The felon directed Navejar to buy certain firearms that he wanted and then provided her with the purchase money, according to the charges. The two-count indictment was returned Oct. 4, 2018, in federal court in Chicago. It charges Navejar with one count of conspiracy to knowingly make false statements and knowingly dispose of a firearm to a convicted felon, and one count of knowingly disposing of a firearm to a convicted felon. Arraignment is set for Oct. 16, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez. The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Celinez Nunez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Neff Welsh. “Straw purchasers too often play a grave role in enabling the unlawful possession of guns and the senseless shootings that can follow,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to stopping the flow of guns
to convicted felons or other prohibited individuals who cannot legally possess them.” “Preventing the illegal selling and purchasing of firearms will always be a priority for ATF in conjunction with our local and federal partners,” said ATF SAC Nunez. “Straw purchasers must be held accountable for their role in bringing so many illegal guns into Chicago.” “Anyone who knowingly puts a gun into the hands of a felon shows blatant disregard for the safety and security of our communities,” said FBI SAC Sallet. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who engages in these illicit transactions, which directly contribute to the gun violence plaguing our city.” “It is important that we do whatever we can as a society to make sure that we prevent additional families from losing a loved one because a criminal was able to get their hands on a gun through illegal means - including straw purchases,” said CPD Supt. Johnson. The indictment describes three handgun purchases in 2015 and 2017 in Hammond, Ind., and Gary, Ind. On one occasion, the felon accompanied Navejar to Indiana when one of the purchases was made, the indictment states. The charges also allege that Navejar provided the felon with other guns that Navejar had previously purchased for her own use. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The conspiracy charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison, while the charge of knowingly disposing a firearm to a felon is punishable by up to ten years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Conservation District’s Harvest Gathering of 1858 set for Nov. 4 Step back in time to the 1850s at McHenry County Conservation District’s Harvest Gathering of 1858 on Sunday, Nov. 4 from Noon to 4 p.m. at Powers-Walker House Historic Landmark in Glacial Park, Rt. 31 and Harts Road in Ringwood. Join costumed re-enactors as they share how early settlers harvested, processed and used corn and other natural fibers in their everyday lives. See examples of heritage vegetables in all sizes and colors. Try your hand at shelling corn off the cob and grinding it into flour with a hand crank, or making your own corn husk doll or yarn doll to take home. Witness other harvest activities such as grinding herbs for winter use, creating bobbin lace or spinning and tatting. There will also be a weapons
demonstration of the era by a mounted Cavalry sergeant. Be sure to follow the smells of bread baking in the wood-burning cook stove inside and take the opportunity to tour inside the historic farmhouse, which is open to the public only a few times a year. “There are always changes to the house with the on-going restoration,” says Gail Brown, volunteer restoration coordinator, “If you haven’t seen the interior of this special historic home lately, now is your chance to see what ‘new’ old artifacts are around and what changes we have made. See what secrets the history holds.” The Program is free and registration is not required for this drop-in event. For more information contact Prairieview Education Center at (815) 479-5779 or www. MCCDistrict.org.
THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2018
Cider Fest Bake-Off
SUBMITTED PHOTOS McHenry County News
Pictured are Cider Fest Bake-off Chairwoman Coral Scranton, Royal Oak Farm president Renee Norton, baker Leah Birdsall and orchard co-owner Sarah Bell holding the winning “Apple of My Eye” trophy.
(Above) Royal Oaks Farm Orchard of Harvard won the inaugural apple pie contest at 41 annual Cider Fest Oct. 7 at the McHenry County Historical Museum in Union. Judges – George Buss (Lincoln) of Freeport, Wayne Issleb (Grant) of Wauconda and State Rep. Barb Wheeler of Crystal Lake – selected the orchard’s Salted Carmel Apple Crumb Pie as tops in the commercial category. (Right) Judy Link of Marengo made it a clean sweep this year. The Heritage Fair pie-baking champion also claimed the grand prize for her carmel apple pie Oct. 7 at this year’s McHenry County Historical Society Cider Fest. Becky Kokes of Lindenhurst finished second and Adrianne Adams of Richmond took third. The winner in the apple cake category was Nancy Hoadley of Woodstock, followed by Huntley’s Jean Turner.