A federal grand jury in the Central District of Illinois returned an indictment on April 8 charging Julius Burkes, 47, of Indiana, with obstruction of commerce by robbery, murder, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. Burkes is accused of robbing and killing the owner of The Line bar in Momence, Illinois using a firearm on February 2. The indictment was unsealed on April 13.
Burkes was arrested in Hammond, Indiana on February 3 by Hammond Police Department officers working with the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office. He has been held in law enforcement custody since his arrest. Initially charged by the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office, Burkes’ case has involved coordination between local prosecutors and federal authorities throughout the investigation.
If convicted, Burkes faces up to 20 years imprisonment for obstruction of commerce by robbery, up to a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release; up to 15 years imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon; and up to life imprisonment without parole or possibly the death penalty for murder.
The investigation included participation from several agencies: Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation Springfield Field Office; Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force; Illinois State Police; Momence Police Department; Bradley Police Department; Grant Park Police Department; Hammond Police Department; U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force; and Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Freres is prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that an indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt—Burkes remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois supports community safety through partnerships with law enforcement agencies and victim assistance programs according to its official website. The office functions within the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website, prosecutes federal crimes while safeguarding national interests according to its official website, serves forty-six counties across central Illinois according to its official website, collaborates closely with other agencies to advance public safety according to its official website, handles both criminal prosecutions and civil litigation within its district according to its official website.
