A man from Oak Lawn, Illinois, has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for his involvement in a cocaine trafficking operation and corrupt dealings with a federal agent. Gary Howard, aged 48, was arrested in 2018 during an attempted purchase of ten kilograms of cocaine from an individual working secretly with law enforcement. During the arrest at a Chicago furniture store parking lot, Howard had more than $133,000 in cash intended for the transaction.
Following the arrest, authorities searched Howard’s home and found over $106,000 in cash, a drug ledger, and a loaded handgun. At that time, Howard was serving as a confidential informant for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) under Special Agent Anthony Sabaini. The two were involved in a corrupt arrangement where Howard paid Sabaini for sensitive information and protection from other law enforcement agencies.
In July 2025, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger handed down the sentence after Howard was convicted last year by a federal jury on charges of drug conspiracy and attempted drug possession.
Sabaini faced legal repercussions as well; he was convicted in 2023 for illegally structuring financial transactions and filing false tax returns among other charges. He received a sentence exceeding six years in federal prison.
The sentencing announcement came from Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, alongside Sheila G. Lyons of the DEA Chicago Field Division. The FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigation provided assistance.
“The Sabaini-Howard partnership stained the reputation of HSI and law enforcement at large,” stated Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Shih and Jared Hasten in their sentencing memorandum. “Corrupt confidential informants and those who work to corrupt federal law enforcement will be held accountable.”
