Rock Island Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Charges

The U.S. Department of Justice reports in its press release (quotation, not an independent finding): “DAVENPORT, Iowa – Rock Island men were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on June 12, 2025, all three men drove together to sell marijuana to a confidential source. Daquez Deasante Howard, 22, remained in the car and possessed money from the drug sale, a loaded, Taurus pistol with an extended magazine, and 20.83 grams of marijuana on his seat. On July 8, 2026, Howard was sentenced to a 68-month prison term, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Darryl Lee Smith, Jr., 23, was apprehended by police after he ran from the car and possessed a loaded revolver with the hammer cocked back. On May 13, 2026, Smith was sentenced to a 57-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release Darryl Benard Shears, III,24, ran on foot, escaping the police. Inside the car, police found a loaded pistol, 35.10 grams of cocaine, 14.31grams of crack cocaine, and two functioning scales where Shears had been seated in the car before and after the drug deal. On June 29, 2025, Shears was arrested. Shears again attempted to flee from police on the Arsenal Bridge, crashing into multiple police cars, and jumping into the Mississippi river. Shears also possessed a loaded pistol with a round in the chamber. On October 8, 2026, Shears was sentenced ”