Man gets 20 years for armed habitual criminal conviction in DuPage County

A previously convicted felon was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a DuPage County judge on Monday after being found guilty of multiple felonies, including possession of what prosecutors described as a “machine gun.”

Curtis Lyons, 41, formerly of Maywood, was found guilty on four felony weapons charges as well as being an armed habitual criminal in the bench trial.

According to a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office, Villa Park police responded to the intersection of Chatham Avenue and Plymouth Street on Jan. 25, 2023, for a report of shots fired. Police found numerous shell casings at the scene.

Police learned Lyons, already a convicted felon, had arranged to sell drugs at the intersection while armed with a 9 mm Glock 19 that had been altered with a fully automatic switch and laser sight.

According to authorities, police later located Lyons in a residence on Cornell where they found the altered gun, along with a Smith & Wesson M & P Shield 9 mm, a 50-round drum magazine containing eight rounds and approximately $7,000 in cash.

“Without giving a second thought to his status as a convicted felon, which prohibits him from legally possessing a firearm, Mr. Lyons thumbed his nose at the law and illegally armed himself with a machine gun before heading out on Jan. 25, 2023,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release.

He’s remained in custody at the DuPage County jail since his arrest.

Lyons must serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.