CENTRALIA, IL — A 26-year-old Centralia man was sentenced Thursday in federal court to eight years in federal prison on charges related to a raid on his Centralia home in January. Montia Ewing was arrested after Centralia police officers, their high-risk team, and the high-risk team from three ILEAS regions executed a search warrant on his home.

They initiated entry into the home with “flash-bang” grenades and then kicked in the front and back doors to the home. Their search reportedly revealed an altered 12 gauge shotgun, a fully loaded drum magazine, 26.4 grams of suspected Fentanyl, 169 Grams of cocaine, 13 ecstasy pills as well as approximately $10,500.00 in cash. The weapons were forfeited in court Thursday prior to Ewings’ sentencing.

He earlier pleaded guilty in federal court in a two-count federal indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

Police reports indicate Ewing was also running an illegal food service business out of the basement of his home, not only in violation of city ordinances and zoning laws but investigators believe the business was a cover for laundering money.