A woman from Normal faces federal weapons charges for allegedly transferring an illegal firearm that was later used to shoot and kill a Champaign police officer last year.
Police arrested Regina Lewis, 27, of Normal, and Ashantae Corruthers, 28, of Indianapolis, on Thursday. The two were indicted last week on charges of conspiracy to illegally purchase and transfer a firearm and conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Lewis and Corruthers made a so-called straw purchase of a gun in Indianapolis in November 2020 and gave the weapon to Darion Lafayette, 24, of Champaign.
Lafayette died in a shooting with police on May 19, 2021. Authorities said Lafayette used the illegally-obtained weapon to shoot and kill Champaign police officer Chris Oberheim when officers responded to a domestic disturbance.
Prosecutors said Lewis and Corruthers lied about the gun transfer by calling Indianapolis Police in April 2021 to claim the gun had been stolen.
Lewis and Corruthers appeared Friday by video in federal court in Peoria.
The charges carry sentences of up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
