Man on federal probation busted for selling drugs from Swansea apartment

A Swansea man on federal probation has been busted for allegedly dealing drugs.

Eric S. Wilson, 38, of 514 Morgan St. apartment 6, has been charged with two counts of unlawful possession with intent to deliver more than 100 grams of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver more than 400 grams of a controlled substance, both Class X felonies, and resisting a police officer, a Class A misdemeanor.

According to Lt. Kurt Eversman, supervisor of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department Drug Tactical Unit, authorities got a tip that Wilson was manufacturing and selling drugs from his apartment and that he had a large stockpile of drugs there.

Investigators watching the apartment stopped two people leaving the apartment and found evidence that allowed them to get a search warrant. Inside, they said they found 600 grams of cocaine and 800 grams of cannabis. They also found a large amount of cash.

Sheriff Richard Wilson said he was glad to see “a substantial amount of cocaine off the streets in the metro-east area.”

According to St. Clair County court records, Wilson, known as “Big E,” has been charged five times previously for the possession of illegal drugs.

He was sentenced in a 2002 federal court case to five years in prison for conspiracy to manufacture narcotics, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics. One count was related to cocaine and the other to crack cocaine.

Also arrested was a woman who lived in Wilson’s apartment.

Chandress M. Johnson, 37, was charged with one count of child endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor.

Bond for Wilson, who last month asked to have his federal probation lifted, was set at $200,000. Johnson’s bail was set at $5,000.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Man on federal probation busted for selling drugs from Swansea apartment."