Pre-Trial Release Denied for Three Men Allegedly Found in Possession of Machine Guns/Drugs at Naperville Recreation Facility

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for three men who were allegedly found to be in possession of multiple loaded machine guns and drugs at a Naperville recreation facility. Demarveus Butler, 19 (d.o.b. 3/27/2004) of the 200 block of Fulton Street, Michigan City, Indiana, Terrance Reed, 27 (d.o.b. 10/7/1996) of the 3500 block of W. Adams Street, Chicago, and Rubin Tart, 24 (d.o.b. 4/20/1999) of the 3700 block of 16th Place, Country Club Hills, appeared at First Appearance Court yesterday afternoon each charged with multiple felonies. Butler is charged with one count of Possession of a Loaded Machine Gun (Class X Felony) and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony). Reed is charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony), one Count of Armed Violence (Class X Felony), one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felony). Tart is charged with one count of Possession of a Loaded Machine Gun (Class X Felony), one count of Armed Violence (Class X Felony), one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felony) and three counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (one Class 1 Felony and two Class 4 Felonies). All three defendants have also been charged with one count of Misdemeanor Resisting a Police Officer. 

On December 2, 2023, at approximately 11:02 p.m., while conducting surveillance in the Bowlero parking lot, located at 1515 Aurora Avenue, Naperville police officers allegedly observed a Honda Accord affixed with a temporary registration that came back to a 2008 Nissan. While surveilling the vehicle, officers allegedly observed three men, later identified as Butler, Reed and Tart, enter the vehicle. It is alleged that after the Honda was started,  officers pulled their squad car in front of the vehicle, pinning it in, at which time the vehicle reversed and struck an unoccupied vehicle behind it. It is alleged that after another Naperville squad car pinned in the rear of the vehicle, the defendants exited the car and fled on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, all three defendants were taken into custody. It is alleged that when officers returned to the Honda, they observed in plain view a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine and one bullet in the chamber near the center console. The Glock 22 was also equipped with a switch that converts the weapon into a fully automatic machine gun. When searching the vehicle, officers recovered additional weapons including a loaded Glock 19 handgun with one bullet in the chamber which was reported stolen out of Indiana, a loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun with a fifty-round drum attachment that was equipped with a switch that converts the weapon into a fully automatic machine gun, a loaded American tactical omni hybrid rifle with one bullet in the chamber, three loaded magazines and two boxes of ammunition. Officers also recovered 54 grams of cannabis, 21.4 grams of cocaine, 5.2 grams of heroin as well as three full pills and four half-pills of MDMA from the Honda. Further investigation also found that the Honda was reported stolen out of Chicago.

“Public safety is the top priority of my office and the allegations that these three men unlawfully possessed extremely dangerous, fully loaded weapons, two of which that are capable of firing as a machine gun, at a family-friendly entertainment facility are alarming,” Berlin said. “The quick apprehension of the defendants in this case sends the message that in DuPage County we will not hesitate to remove firearms from those who cannot legally possess them. Thanks to the vigilance of the Naperville Police Department, an arsenal of dangerous weapons has been removed from the streets and quite possibly a tragedy has been averted. I commend the Naperville Police Department for their heads-up work on this case and for their continuing commitment to public safety. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Alexandria Levan and Alysa Feld for their work in securing charges against these three defendants.”

“The number of illegal guns and drugs seized during this incident were significant, and I cannot thank my officers enough for engaging in the type of proactive policing that results in illegal items like these being taken off our streets,” Arres said. “There is no place in Naperville for these types of offenses, and this department will continue to prioritize the safety of our community by seeking out criminal activity and arresting those involved. I’m grateful to DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his office for their assistance in this case and their work to keep these individuals behind bars until trial.”

The next court appearance for Butler and Reed is scheduled for January 2, 2024, for arraignment. The next court appearance for Tart is scheduled for January 12, 2024, for arraignment.         

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Demarveus Butler

Terrance Reed

Rubin Tart

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.