A Swansea man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Today, the U.S. District Court in East St. Louis ordered, Eric L. Eiskant, 33, detained without bond pending indictment. The alleged violation took place on January 20, 2017, in connection with a fatal vehicle accident that occurred in the area of St. Clair Avenue and 79th Street in East St. Louis. If convicted, Eiskant faces a term of imprisonment of up to ten years, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
A criminal complaint is a formal charge against a defendant that is comprised of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Illinois State Police with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Laura V. Reppert.