A man from Cherry Valley, Illinois has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm. Sean Claeyssen, 35, admitted to distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Claeyssen sold and distributed approximately 664.6 grams of methamphetamine and 27.7 grams of cocaine between October and December 2023. He was found with a loaded firearm at the time of his arrest in December 2023.
U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston handed down the 204-month sentence on November 14, 2025.
The sentencing was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Shane R. Catone, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and Beloit Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim represented the government.
“Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to tackle a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses,” according to the announcement.
